Great ‘Failures’ of the Bible (part 1)

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: Great ‘Failures’ of the Bible (part 1) ------------------- Date: 1/1/2003
Keywords: “Manasseh”
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Passage: 2 Chronicles 33:1-2, 9, 11-13*

1. Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.

2. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord dispossessed before the sons of Israel.

9. …Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the sons of Israel.

11. Therefore the Lord brought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria against them, and they captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze chains, and took him to Babylon.

12. And when he was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.

13. When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.

Questions

Note: As background to today’s study, you might want to read the account of Manasseh’s reign in 2 Chronicles 33 AND in 2 Kings 21.

1. Who was Manasseh’s father? Was he a good King or a bad King?

 

2. List specific sins that Manasseh committed during his 55 year reign as King of Judah.

 

3. Late in his reign, Manasseh was captured by the Assyrians, who cruelly carried him off in bronze chains. What happened when Manasseh encountered adversity?

 

Practical help

People who misbehave (it’s a BIG club — this writer is a card-carrying member) are prone to lose heart. After being tempted to sin, we can be tempted to believe that our sin is too great for God to forgive.

The story of Manasseh’s life proves this to be a lie!

God forgave and restored Manasseh after he worshipped false gods, sacrificed his sons in the fire, committed all sorts of deviant sexual perversions and led an entire nation astray from the true and right way. Do you really believe that God will NOT forgive you if you have fallen into addiction to porn if you do as Manasseh did?

Of course He will!

Verse 12 (above) tells us, "And when he was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers."

God heard his prayer and restored him. God is gracious and will restore you if you will humble yourself greatly before the Lord.

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."