2 Chronicles 33:1

2 Chronicles 33:1 says, Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:  After Hezekiah died, Manasseh his son, who was only twelve years old, became king.  He was likely easily influence at this age, but he still should have been grounded in God's word.  He had a long reign that lasted fifty-five years.  Verse two adds, But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.  Unfortunately, Manasseh didn't follow the example of his father and serve God, instead he followed the ways of the heathen and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.  We may be devoted Christians and do our best to raise our children to follow Jesus Christ, but we cannot force them to.  They have to make that decision for themselves.  Verse three continues, For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.  Manasseh began to rebuild the places to worship false gods and built altars to Baalim.  He worshipped the host of heaven, or the stars I believe, as well.  He was undoing all the good works for God that Hezekiah his father had done.  The next generation may turn away from God, even if they have been raised by Christian parents and start trying to tear down things set aside for God and begin worshipping false gods.  That is why it is so important that we reach them with the gospel.  Verse four states, Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.  Manasseh also built altars to false gods in God's house.  God had said that His name would be proclaimed in the temple in Jerusalem forever as the only God, and even if the people then or the people now don't do so, He is still the only God of Jerusalem or anywhere else.  Verse five adds, And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.  He built altars to the stars in the courts of the Temple, the house of God.  We need to make sure that we don't bring false teachings into the church building as we gather to worship, and more importantly, as Christians we need to make sure we don't allow them into our lives, since our bodies are to be a temple for God.  Verse six continues, And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.  He began to sacrifice children to these false gods and practiced witchcraft.   He got about as far away from God as anyone could.  We should not be surprised if those who are not followers of Jesus Christ proclaim many different things to be what guide them.  Verse seven states, And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever.  He also built an idol in the Temple, where God had told David and Solomon, who were responsible for the building of the Temple as a house of God, that He would put His name forever.  God also said He had chosen the people of Israel to work through to reach the world with His word.  That responsibility is now the responsibility of Christians and whether people believe it or not, God is still the only God.  Verse eight adds, Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.  God said He would never cut Israel off from the land He had given them as long as they lived by His commandments and law.  I believe this promise now applies to Christians and God's eternal spiritual kingdom.  Verse nine continues, So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.  We are told that Manasseh made the people of Judah sin, but he could only influence them to do so. Whether we sin or not is always our individual choice, even if those in power declare that we must worship false gods.  Verse ten concludes, And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.  God was still speaking to Manasseh and the people of Judah, but they would not listen.  God is still speaking to people today offering them His gift of salvation, but too many still will not listen.  As followers of Christ, He also speaks to us through the Holy Spirit and His written word, and at times we do not listen either, but we need to pray that we always will.