The End of Evil

The first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, consolidated much territory under his rule and laid the foundations for what would become the modern nation. But his true obsession was his fear of death and attempt to find an elixir that would grant him immortality. He killed scholars and burned books to focus their attention on his quest, and he developed an immense underground mausoleum that included the Terracotta Army to protect him. Ironically, he died suddenly of what is believed to be Chinese alchemical elixir poisoning—he had been ingesting mercury that he thought would give him eternal life.

The reign of Manasseh is jaw- dropping in its scope of evil. Not only did he return to idolatry, he actively blasphemed in the temple of God (vv. 3–5). In his obsession with other gods, he even sacrificed his own children in pagan worship, one of the most detestable practices condemned by the Lord (v. 6).

The people followed Manasseh into sin, and they ignored the Lord’s attempts to call them back (v. 10). Finally, God got his attention: Assyria captured Manasseh and led him into captivity with a literal ring through his nose (v. 11). At last, Manasseh was in a position to recognize his sin. In the face of destruction with no means of escape, the God of Manasseh’s fathers became his God, and he cried out to Him for salvation.

The great hope in the story of Manasseh is that he responded to God’s coming judgment on his sin by calling upon the Lord. The God of heaven heard his prayer for mercy and responded with salvation from his certain captivity and death in Babylon. Manasseh, with a heart changed by the Lord, changed his ways to honor the God of Israel (vv. 12–16).

Pray with Us

As we keep the Stewardship department in our prayers today, please mention Moody’s Planned Giving program. Thank God for Crystal Davis-Landrum, Kirsten Miller, Lysa Ellis, and Mark Pycke. May God give them wisdom and joy in their work!

BY Dr. Eric C. Redmond

Dr. Eric C. Redmond serves as a professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and as associate pastor of adult ministries at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, Ill. He is married to Pam and they have five children. He is the author of Say It!  Celebrating Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition (Moody Publishers), Where Are All the Brothers? Straight Answers to Men's’ Questions about the Church (Crossway), a commentary on Jonah in the Christ-Centered Exposition Series (B&H Publishers), and a study guide on Ephesians in the Knowing the Bible series (Crossway).