Is God nudging you to change some of your leadership practices? (114-1)

There are times when a leader can get a new understanding of their character and the core values they have consciously or unconsciously chosen. There comes a point when leaders realize that everything they have given their life to has little or no lasting value; they see their legacy as God sees it and they know they need to change. Read 2 Chronicles 33:1-20.

Manasseh became king of Judah when he was 12 years old. He ruled in Judah for 55 years. His spiritual legacy, based on the majority of his leadership life is described in 33:2, “He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.” During the early years of his reign, Manasseh rebuilt the altars to false gods; he was involved in witchcraft, sorcery, astrology, consulted spiritualists and mediums and even killed his own children for religious purposes, burning them alive because of his superstitions. Manasseh led the people of Judah totally away from the God of his forefathers. Even when the Lord spoke to Manasseh and the people they totally ignored Him so He withdrew His protection from Judah, and the Assyrians captured Judah and made Manasseh a prisoner.

The Assyrians did not treat Manasseh with much dignity. Verse 11 says the Assyrians “…put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.” In his distress, Manasseh finally humbled himself before God, admitting his guilt and personal pride, “Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God” (v. 13b). In the great mercy of God, which none of us can truly understand, He accepted Manasseh’s prayer and restored him as leader back in Jerusalem. (Review the list above of Manasseh’s evils to get a glimpse of the mercy God gives to those who humble themselves.)

The last years of Manasseh’s life were spent trying to undue the spiritual carnage he had created among the people of Judah. He was unable to completely repair the spiritual mess but he was able to influence his grandson Josiah, who eventually became one of the godliest leaders to ever rule in Judah.

Have you sensed God trying to get your attention to change some of your leadership practices? He brought that message to Manasseh many times before He brought great crisis into his life. The Bible tells us God hates the proud and arrogant but humility is a trait God honors. Wise Christian leaders humble themselves before God and demonstrate humility in their leadership.

Proverbs 11:11 (tlb) “The good influence of godly citizens causes a city to prosper, but the moral decay of the wicked drives it downhill.”