The whole story ...

Have you ever found yourself to have made a conclusion regarding something, only to find later that you didn't have the whole story told to you in the first place (only a partial, incomplete representation had been given to you). It was a bit like that for me tonight with the readings (Scriptures). And unless you are used to a reading plan like the "Life Journal Reading Plan" such as I use, you may not be aware that passages such as 1 & 2 Kings, coincide with 1 & 2 Chronicles to reveal the same accounts in history. Certainly my ignorance saw me at times neglect some of these passages because I didn't capture the significance of the lessons to be learnt, or I couldn't see past the detail of who belonged to which family and how long they reigned and what their reign was like (he did what was evil in the Lord's sight ..., he did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight ...). 

So, having read of the disastrous reign of King Manasseh, I thought here we go again. Another one of those King's given the privilege of leading a people who seemed to get it all wrong and affect the people in the process too:

2 Kings 21:16 (New Living Translation)

16 Manasseh also murdered many innocent people until Jerusalem was filled from one end to the other with innocent blood. This was in addition to the sin that he caused the people of Judah to commit, leading them to do evil in the Lord’s sight.

Well that was the incomplete picture I gleaned from 2 Kings until I turned over and read the following (missing element of the same story):

2 Chronicles 33:11-13 (New Living Translation)

11 So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon. 12 But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God!

Now I reckon that makes a whole lot of difference to the story. The fact that Manasseh comes to his senses, humbles himself before the Lord and repents of his past actions and leading of the people. Why does it make such a difference to me? Because it resembles "hope". Here is an account of someone in power, getting it totally wrong, leading others in the wrong direction too. And in these circumstances we tend to believe that is it, there is no hope for change, no possibility for a turn around, all is lost. But no!

I continue to be blown away with the amazing way that God speaks into the lives of people. No matter how much I may have given up on the possibility of change for someone's life, God doesn't, and I am so glad of that. I am glad the Lord continues to stretch my faith and challenge me to see more possibilities, more hope, more good. I so want to be a part of His plan for the people around me.

Turn around ...

Have you ever been on a trip and suddenly you (or someone else traveling with you) begin to question whether you are actually going in the right direction or not? Of course, it is one of those roads that has no indication of where you are, where you are going or where you have been (no sign posts). At this point you have a choice to make and there seems to be only one of two of these available to you, either to persist in the direction you are going, or to turn around and go back.

Let me ask you, how are you at taking directions? Or here is a bigger question, how are you at being told you are going in the wrong direction? Think about this a moment. Does it sit easy with you then someone suggests you are wrong? Your choices are out of whack, out of alignment with what God might want for you. How do you take such conversation?

Have a look at this passage from the Bible with me:

Isaiah 55:6-7 (New Living Translation)

6 Seek the Lord while you can find him.

Call on him now while he is near.

7 Let the wicked change their ways

and banish the very thought of doing wrong.

Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.

Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

To repent is merely to turn around, to go in the opposite direction than the one you have been going (take a u turn). It is to respond to the fact that our lives are heading the wrong way, most times a destructive and harmful direction of wasted opportunity. It is then we need to understand that God has something better and different for us, a plan that is fulfilling, worthwhile, healthy and beneficial. But it does mean discarding the way we were going. The way we were living. To turn our back on this and go in a different direction.

This passage reminds me that there is a time for this. In fact, more urgently, that we need to respond while the opportunity is there for us, for it may get too late and not be an option available to us anymore. And I love the response of God when we do this: Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. Don't you love that?

Lord, I desire to be found on the right track, following Your way, going the direction You have mapped out for my life. Help me to listen to the prompting of Your Spirit who at times needs to correct me in this, who attempts to guide me back onto the right path. Help me in listening to obey and to follow You more closely.