BEHIND GOD...

SCRIPTURE

2 Chronicles 33:1-17 (NRSV)

Manasseh returns to God

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had pulled down, and erected altars to the Baals, made sacred poles, worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them. He built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, "In Jerusalem shall my name be forever." He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. He made his son pass through fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom, practiced soothsaying and augury and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with wizards. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. The carved image of the idol that he had made he set in the house of God, of which God said to David and to his son Solomon, "In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever; I will never again remove the feet of Israel from the land that I appointed for your ancestors, if only they will be careful to do all that I have commanded them, all the law, the statutes, and the ordinances given through Moses." Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did more evil than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed before the people of Israel.

The Lord spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they gave no heed. Therefore the Lord brought against them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh captive in manacles, bound him with fetters, and brought him to Babylon. While he was in distress he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. He prayed to him, and God received his entreaty, heard his plea, and restored him again to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord indeed was God.

Afterward he built an outer wall for the city of David west of Gihon, in the valley, reaching the entrance at the Fish Gate; he carried it around Ophel, and raised it to a very great height. He also put commanders of the army in all the fortified cities in Judah. He took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, and he threw them out of the city. He also restored the altar of the Lord and offered on it sacrifices of well-being and of thanksgiving; and he commanded Judah to serve the Lord the God of Israel. The people, however, still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.


DEVOTION

Today I am struck by the words, "Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did more evil than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed before the people of Israel."

Isn't this a terrible report? May it never be said of me, or of you, that we misled the people whom God gave us to lead.

All of us are leaders in some form or fashion. Some of us lead at work as pastors, supervisors, employers, or managers. Some lead from home as fathers, mothers, sisters, or brothers. Some lead from social service organizations like the Boy/Girl Scouts, Big Brothers/ Big Sisters, or Habitat for Humanity. Some lead in churches, serving on church councils, deacon boards, choirs, hospitality committees, etc. Finally, there are those who are informal leaders, or people who choose to offer a godly example and a helping hand to everyone whom they meet.

In all cases, leadership is a gift entrusted to us by God and one that we ought never abuse! Manasseh misled his people and great calamity befell them in the form of an invading army. But, then Manasseh turned to God, and rightly led his people, and they returned to the Lord their God in worship and praise.

A good leader will always lead from BEHIND GOD. God is the only true leader. God is the only one who deserves honor and praise. God is the All-Wise One who gets to dictate the direction of our lives and as we look to God, we will lead aright!

It is an awesome responsibility to be in authority over people, that is why we must assume a posture of humility and wisdom if we are to lead in the right direction.

People should only follow us, in as much as we are following God!

Won't you seek God's direction today for your leadership endeavors? Let's pray:

Holy One, please help me to keep my eyes and heart steadfastly fixed upon you. Please do not let me turn to the right or to the left unless you decree it. Please help me to lead your people aright and into the very heart of worship. I love you and I pledge to share our love with others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta