He had to be one of the worst kings ever. His name was Manasseh and he was only twelve years old when he became king. The Bible tells us, “He did evil in the eyes of the LORD following the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites… The LORD said through his servants the prophets, Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil than the Amorites who preceded him and led Judah into sin with his idols. (2 Kings 21:2,10,11). When you read the account of Manasseh in the book of 2 Kings, you are led to believe there is no way Manasseh could make it into heaven. Now, I am not acting as judge, but when you read the account in 2 Chronicles here is “The Rest of the Story.”

“The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. So the LORD brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh as prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his GOD and humbled himself greatly before the GOD of his fathers. And when he prayed to him, the LORD was greatly moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is GOD…he rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David…he got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the LORD, as well as the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and threw them out of the city. Then he restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it, and told Judah to serve the LORD, the GOD of Israel…The other events of Manasseh’s reign, including his prayer to his God and the words the seers spoke to him in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, are written in the annals of the kings of Israel. His prayer and how God was moved by his entreaty, as well as all his sins and unfaithfulness, and the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself—all are written in the records of the seers. (2 Chron. 33:1-20).

When you read the story of Manasseh, you realize there is hope for everyone, even the most rebellious. We know about another rebellious man named Saul of Tarsus. He viciously attacked and arrested Christian and participated in the stoning of Stephen as recorded in (Acts 7:54-60). Let us be reminded that GOD only uses imperfect people. There is none righteous, no not one. We have all turned aside, like sheep, we have all gone astray. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD. How truly amazing is His grace!