Seventy-seven Times
Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God. 2 Chronicles 33:13 NASB
Knew – How many times will you commit the same offense before God turns His back? How terrible must your sins be before God will not forgive? Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai suggested that God might have ordained the terrible sins of David and the children of Israel with the golden calf in order to demonstrate the depth of His forgiveness. In other words, we can look at those horrible sins (idolatry, adultery and murder) and realize that God forgave David and Israel. That helps us see that God can and will forgive us.
But for how long? Isn’t there a statute of limitation on forgiveness? After all, doesn’t Yeshua himself speak about the unforgiveable sin? Perhaps it helps to know the story of Manasseh.
There was no more wicked king than Manasseh. Scripture tells us that he slaughtered the righteous without an ounce of remorse. He installed idolatry in Israel with the same intensity. He was a man devoid of morality. All that Hezekiah did to return Israel to God, Manasseh undid. But something happened to Manasseh. The chronicler writes, “When he was in distress, he entreated the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.” The Hebrew reads va-yikana me’od. The verb is kana. It is about significant self-deflation. It is about reflection, recognition and acknowledgement of one’s total dependency and unworthiness before a holy God. It is “fall on your face” submission. It is the act of mortification. And it usually takes severe distress to propel us in this direction. Few are the righteous who experience kana with the chastisement of the Lord’s hand. It is a pity that God must bring distress (sarar = to bind up, to tie, to be oppressed) before we turn back to Him, but that seems to be an all-too-human trait of the famous and the infamous.
Notice that Manasseh does just humble himself. He does so with me’od. The word means “very, greatly, in abundance.” As a noun, it’s about power. As an adverb, it emphasizes intensity. Manasseh had an entire lifetime of sins to bring before the Lord. I can only begin to imagine the overwhelming sense of despicable self-loathing he must have felt. I can imagine that he must have thought, “Even this will not be enough for atonement.”
But God is good. He is good in ways that we simply cannot understand. No man on earth, no judge in any court, would have forgiven Manasseh. Thousands dead, a country destroyed, the seeds of idolatrous rebellion planted into the very soil of Israel – how could such a man ever find absolution? No! He must suffer for what he has done. That is justice!
The last we hear of Manasseh, he is repairing the damage he caused as much as he can. The final statement about his life is not that Sheol opened its mouth to swallow this wicked man but rather that he knew that YHWH was God. Actually, the verse is a bit more powerful in Hebrew. It says, “va-yeda M’nashe ki YHWH hoo ha-Elohim.” He knew. The verb is yada, a verb reflecting intimate, personal relationship. Manasseh ends his life in love with God. But not just any God. Not one of the many gods he brought into Israel. This is YHWH hoo ha-Elohim, YHWH the specific God, the only God.
The seed of Manasseh lives in me too. I tread on God’s grace. I am not quick to confess. I resist kana. Shame on me! God is good. He waits for me to know Him and to discover His grace even in those places where I believe I have exceeded the limitation.
Topical Index: Manasseh, kana, me’od, yada, sarar, know, humble, 2 Chronicles 33:13
Thanks again dear Skip. True repentance is also a gift from Heaven. Unless it is given to the humble and pure of heart no repair and reconciliation can take place. Our relationships remain interconnected between Abba Father, self and others. As He draws us closer we regain peace with Him, self and others in this order. We cannot survive without Him allowing us to. We do not achieve anything without Him being a major part of it even though we input some effort from our side. Abba Father is truely the only Father and Creator that creates new life every day. Many people are not even aware of this because they are so conditioned by the lies from the actors pretending to care but with no true love like Master Yehoshua and Abba Father. I am so fortunate and grateful that true repentance was given to me and that I can rebuild my own life with of source the help from Above. One step at a time. One of the gifts is to be strong enough to be shown how pathetic my condition really is and how helpless I am to heal and repair anything without the help and guidance from Heaven. This realization has caused me to become resistant to the evil inclination in my own heart. I truly pray this: “Renew in me a pure heart and a right spirit Loving and Mercifull Heavenly Father. Al for Your glory only”. Shalom Shalom!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU JESUS…
jan
Christina, I concur. True repentance is the gift of G-d. Without Him we can do nothing- not even ‘repent.’
The LORD said to Solomon- “ask of me anything you want” – now there’s a blank check! “Pay to the order of”- and then we fill out the amount!- What, dear friends would you ask for? -anything,- anything at all- “ask and you will receive.”
Go for it Solomon. -First of all consider the Source. This is Who saying this? The Source of everything good. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from our Giver/Lover. Did you know “Solomon”- G-d is a Giver and a Lover? “Ask and you will receive.” This, friends- was the invitation of YHVH. ”
I would have asked for time to consider. No snap decisions here- no rushing into things.. I would have said- “can I get back to You on this?” – I need time.- May I be allowed time to make a choice? After all- wouldn’t this be the choice of a lifetime? And how many, (besides myself) have heard YHVH say- “Ask, (Solomon), and you will receive..”
What is the “greatest gift?” What is the greatest gift anyone ever could receive from the hand of ONE so mighty and so able?.. -I’m thinking.. -straining the brain and seeking counsel to come up with an answer- This is absolutely the “choice of a lifetime..”
I would ask- I am asking..- for the “gift of repentance.” More than wealth, more than friends, more than family, more than anything I would desire above all- “repentance.” The grace-gift of repentance.
Why is this so? How about you?- What would your desire be? “Ask” and you will receive..- or so it has been spoken by the mouth of the LORD- and according to His words- “ask.”
If we ask anything (according to His will)- we will receive. (It is written) -What is the will of YHVH? What does G-d want for us? What would be His good pleasure? -“Not my will, but thine be done”- are words I remember- “on earth- as it is in Heaven.” I will pray this prayer to my Father- my Heavenly Abba. I have been invited to pray- Prayer is His invitation to a feast. “Come unto me” -are the words speaking to my heart. “Bow the knee”-is the place of blessing. Repentance is the gift I desire. Change my heart, Abba. Make my heart like His heart. Give me the eyes, the mind of Yeshua the Suffering Servant. Burden my heart with the things that burden yours. Let me learn compassion and contentment. I pray for the gift of repentance. A new heart for a new start. Let this be true in my life. Incarnate you words in me. May I see , recognize and realize Your pardon, Your protection, Your peace, Your provision and Your presence- Your Providence in my life. My time, my testimony, my treasure, my teeth and my tongue I surrender in totality to You Abba Father. I know you specialize in the miracle of making a message out of a mess. I willing give my chaos in exchange for your control. I give you darkness- you give me Light. I give you my sadness- you give unto me Joy unspeakable and full of glory. I bring my foolishness unto you and you give wisdom and gladness. I come to you with humility and you raise me up to rise on eagle’s wings. I come to you a sinner and you transform me into a saint, a son, and a steward. Your words are transforming and conforming me into the likeness of the Son. Because of the gift of repentance- I am not who I was- neither am I who I am going to be- I am a work in progress. Holiness is a pilgrimage, a journey. I know You are with me, I know You are for me. I know You are above me, behind me, before me. I know that in You- I live and move and have my being. I ask that You Father- incarnate your words into the life that I now live. May I not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind because of this wonderful gift of repentance. May I remember- “repentance is not a one time event, but a daily occurrence.” I desire to repent early and often. Continue the work You have begun in me, and carry it on to completion is the petition I bring before Your Sovereign throne. Thank you Father for the privilege of prayer and this petition I offer at Your invitation and because Calvary made this prayer possible. These are my words- Amen.
Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?’ (Ezekiel 33:11)
“The Lord isn’t slow to do what He promised, as some people think. Rather, He is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to Him and change the way they think and act.” (2 Peter 3.9)
This was the message of “both” John the Immerser and Yeshua HaMashiach. (Matthew 4:17) “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Solomon prayed for- asked for wisdom. (did he receive?) What is the wisest thing any man can do? What is the most foolish thing any man could do? “-ask and you will receive..”
Amein and Amein to your input brother in Moshiach.
true belief and true repentance
-every grace that brings you nigh..
Thank you sister Christina and brother Carl. That is my heart also. Thanks for putting it into words from my heart that are hard for me to express. i so appreciate you both and looking forward to sharing eternity with you.
Psalm 74:21 “Let not the oppressed return dishonored; let the afflicted and needy praise Thy name.”
“Something’s Gotta Change” Josh Wilson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKISYTwnn0A&feature=related
“Falling Apart” Josh Wilson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3EWHPp80EA (live acoustic performance in studio)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKISYTwnn0A&feature=related (recorded album version w/ lyrics)
Could it be Manasseh’s prayer that turned the corner for God, or could it have been God’s knowledge of Manasseh’s repentant life after forgiveness? I too find myself agreeing with the majority here that “true repentance is a gift from God.”
But God’s gifts come with responsibilities, don’t they? God’s forgiveness would have meant nothing to Manasseh unless he responded with contrition and obedience.