2 Kings 21:1-9: a reflection

1Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. 2He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, after the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 3For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he raised up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel did, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served them. 4He built altars in the LORD’s house, of which the LORD said, “I will put my name in Jerusalem.” 5He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of the LORD’s house. 6He made his son to pass through the fire, practiced sorcery, used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits and with wizards. He did much evil in the LORD’s sight, to provoke him to anger. 7He set the engraved image of Asherah that he had made in the house of which the LORD said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever; 8I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.” 9But they didn’t listen, and Manasseh seduced them to do that which is evil more than the nations did whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.

Manasseh, the son of good King Hezekiah, becomes one of the most wicked kings in Judah's history. He undoes his father's reforms, rebuilds the places of idol worship, sets up altars to false gods even within the Lord's temple, and practices the darkest occult and pagan rites of the surrounding nations. And the tragedy does not stop with his own sin: he seduced the people, leading a whole nation deeper into evil than even the pagan nations before them.

Two things stand out in this grim account. First, the reach of influence. Manasseh did not merely ruin himself; he led an entire people astray. The evil of one person in a place of influence multiplied through a whole generation. This is a sobering reminder that our sins are rarely private; they draw others along. Second, the squandered heritage. Manasseh had a godly father, a good example, every advantage, and he threw it all away. A good beginning guaranteed nothing.

Yet the whole story of Manasseh, told more fully elsewhere in Scripture, holds a startling note of hope: this same man, after being humbled by hard suffering, finally repented, and God received him back. If even Manasseh could be forgiven, no one is beyond the reach of God's grace. Take the warning seriously, that our influence carries others with us and that heritage is no guarantee. But take the hope too: there is mercy even for the worst, for the one who finally humbles himself and turns to God.

Lord, Manasseh led a whole nation into evil, squandering a godly heritage, and yet in the end you received him when he humbled himself and turned to you. Make me mindful that my influence carries others along, for good or ill. And thank you that no one is beyond your grace, not even the worst. Where I have failed, humble me and receive me back, as you received him. Amen.