A New Leaf Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: A New Leaf ------------- Date: 01/01/1999 Keywords: "repentance" "change" "discipline" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: 2 Chronicles 33:9-13* 9. Thus Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the sons of Israel. 10. And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. 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 You might want to read the entire story of Manasseh's rule over Judah. This interesting and tragic story is found in 2 Chronicles 33. In short, King Manasseh gave Judah 55 years of misery as he led them into godlessness while sitting on the throne. Even though he was warned over and over again throughout his life, he disregarded the Lord's chastening until God turned him over to serious suffering at the hands of the Assyrians. His life was turned around when he experienced severe discipline. 1. What does the Lord's 55 years of pursuit of Manasseh tell you about God's commitment to bring about His people's obedience?   2. How do you think Manasseh felt during the time that he was experiencing God's discipline, that is, as the Assyrians were leading him away from Jerusalem with hooks through his flesh? How do you think he felt afterwards, when he was walking in obedience to the Lord (read on in the story to see the end of Manasseh's life (2 Chronicles 33:14-16)?   Practical help The story of Manasseh brings enormous help to anyone who has been struggling with a specific problem — like viewing Internet pornography. God's persistent pursuit of Manasseh, despite his sin and disobedience, lets us know that God doesn't abandon His people when they sin. When God sees Christians who are stuck in sinful patterns, He only seems strengthened in His resolve to see them lead holy lives. One of the weapons in God's arsenal to bring about change is suffering. Suffering is a powerful tool when God uses it to discipline us. Since, as a child of God, you long to be made more like Christ, consider the lengths to which God is willing to go to shape you into His image. Better to cooperate with His gentle prodding to change now, than to have to submit to His harder disciplines later! eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2000 by eXXit *"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."