July 21

Isaiah's Prophecies about Restoration and the Messiah (Continued) - Isaiah 65:1-25, 66:1-24; Spiritual Renewal under Manasseh - 2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38; 2 Chronicles 32:21, 33:10-17

In his [Manasseh, having been taken captive by the Babylonians] 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 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. 2 Chronicles 33:12-13

Classic behavior: When we find ourselves in trouble we turn to the Lord in prayer. You wonder if the Lord tires of this. If repentance can be sincere if it's borne of trouble and need. But isn't that the reason trouble visits us? To renew our faith and need for God in a world and culture that celebrates self-sufficiency?

Remember how evil Manasseh was, rubbing his faith in other gods in the Lord's face, setting up altars to them in the Temple, sacrificing his own children [2 Kings 20:21-21:9]. And still God accepted his repentance. The Lord is just waiting and ready, standing on his tip-toes, ready to forgive us all.

Lord knows.