A depiction of an Asherah pole.
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother's name was Hephzibah. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal and made an Asherah pole,as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, "In Jerusalem I will put my Name." In both courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. 2 Kings 21:1-6
Whoa, Manasseh just rubs it all in the face of God. More questions than answers in today's reading. Which is often the case when reading the Bible. So much we don't know. Lord knows.
How and why does the Lord put up with it for 55 years? Why is his mother's name mentioned? Is it because he began his rule at 12 after his father died and so his mother bears some responsibility for the evil? Why did Hezekiah who did so much good rule only 29 years and his evil son rule 55 years? And how is it that Hezekiah who did so much good produce a son that did so much evil? Lord knows.
Later in Isaiah we will learn that one explanation for the good dying is because they are good and God wants to "spare them from evil" [Isaiah 57:1-2]. I am amazed and a bit bothered, I admit, that He will allow evil rulers to reign for such an extended period of time. Hitler lived far too long. Just think how many lives would have been saved had he died even a year earlier. And why didn't he?
Again, Lord knows.
Perhaps we get the leaders we deserve.
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