remember

The ink wasn’t even dry on Hezekiah’s death certificate and Manasseh was already busy undoing his father’s reforms! He wasn’t just drifting spiritually. He was making determined choices to head 180 degrees in the opposite direction. Notice the intentionality:

• He “seduced them to do evil.” ¹
• He “made Judah sin.” ²
• He “misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” ³

With impunity he plunged the nation into “much evil”—idolatry, witchcraft, sorcery, burning children alive to the gods… you name it. Take a look at the ten-verse summary of his wicked rule. It isn’t pretty (2 Chronicles 33:1-10).

And it’s not like he wasn’t warned. “The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.” ⁴

So how does this sort of thing happen? How does one man fall so far so fast and take an entire nation down with him?

We may have been given a clue. I am intrigued by the fact that Hezekiah named his son “Manasseh,” which means “to forget.” ⁵ We’re not exactly sure why Hezekiah gave him this name. But we do know this much: Manasseh forgot everything his father ever taught him about revering God. He forgot how to follow the Lord. He forgot his responsibility to lead and influence for righteousness. And he promptly forgot God’s warnings.

Perhaps there’s a lesson: When we forget God… anything can happen! There’s no pit so deep; no gutter so foul; no night so black… as when we turn away from God.

Moses’ words are fitting: “Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God.” ⁶ And that’s my prayer for each of us.