2 Chronicles 33:10-13
2 Chronicles 33:10-13
Read: 2 Chronicles 33:1-20
Have you heard about King Manasseh? He was one of the worst kings that ever ruled the people of Judah. He did so many wicked things. He brought idols into the temple of the Lord. He even sacrificed his children to the idols. It’s hard to think of a more wicked thing to do.
The Lord sent prophets to warn Manasseh, but Manasseh didn’t listen. Not at all. He just kept doing more and more evil.
So the Lord sent the Assyrians to capture Manasseh. Once they captured him, they treated him like an animal. They put a big hook in his nose and lead him along with a rope from the hook, just like they would lead an ox or a cow.
The Lord allowed the Assyrians to do this because he wanted to get Manasseh’s attention. Manasseh didn’t listen to the prophets and so the Lord is going to get his attention this way. Do you know what happened? Manasseh repented! He was sorry for his sins. He told the Lord that he wanted to serve him again. He told the Lord he was sorry for all those wicked things he had done.
And the Lord, in grace and love, forgave Manasseh. He heard Manasseh’s prayers of repentance and sorrow, and brought him back to Jerusalem. Because he loved Manasseh, God forgave him. Manasseh was his covenant child!
A wicked king is forgiven by his gracious Father. And God forgives you too. There is no sin that is so great that God will not forgive it. If you sin and are sorry, tell the Lord you are sorry. Tell him that you hate your sin and that you want to fight against it. Tell God that you need his help and ask him for it. Ask God to forgive you and make you clean again.
The Lord, in his covenant love, will certainly forgive you. He will continue to love you and hold on to you as his precious child.
Reflection with your child:
Are there wrong things that you have done for which you have not asked forgiveness?
Source: Sermon by Dr. W. Bredenhof
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