William Tyndale was tied to the stake. Just before he was strangled and burned to death, he called out - - “Oh Lord, open the king of England’s eyes.” Two years later the king allowed the distribution of the English Bible to the common people.
Think about these verses and then we’ll consider them individually.
2 Chronicles 33:9 – Manasseh made Judah and Jerusalem to sin more than the heathen nations. He was the most wicked and immoral of all the kings of Judah and (2 Kings 21:16) filled Jerusalem with innocent blood. (History tells us that the prophet Isaiah was sawn in half by his order). But (2 Chronicles 33:12) when he was in prison he sought the Lord and repented and God forgave Him.
John 17:12 – Not one of them is lost except, Judas the son of perdition so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.
Romans 9:13 – Jacob I have loved but Esau I have hated.
Malachi 1:2-3) – I loved Jacob and I hated Esau.
Why should - - How could - - -
God ever forgive Manasseh? It seems incredible. He was more wicked even than Ahab. He brought gross evil and idolatry through all the nation and right into (2 Chronicles 33:7) the house of God. Does it seem right that he should find forgiveness?
HOLD IT! STOP! TREMBLE!
This is the time for us to be struck with awe-filled wonder as we absorb a deeper realization that God’s GRACE truly is (Romans 5:20) greater than all our sin, greater than all my filthy vile sin and yours. We cannot look at Manasseh (or at ourselves) without seeing the Blood-stained Cross of our victorious Saviour.
That is Grace? It is the supreme favour of God which we don’t deserve and it protects us from the fierce wrath of God which we do deserve. Because of God’s undeserved grace to us, in like manner when we forgive someone (and we must forgive) we bear willingly in ourselves the pain they deserve for what they did. Thus. the love of God (Colossians 3:13-14, 1 John 4:12) is perfected in us. Don’t read the O.T. accounts as just history, which has no meaning for us. Each case is filled with eternal truth for our learning and all of it is profitable.
I think anyone who believes that Judas was predestined to be damned in order to fulfill Scripture, does not understand the totality of God’s Omniscience or the magnificence of man’s free will. Judas was very ambitious. His family and neighbours admired him as a go-getter. But his ambition was fired by greed which gave Satan a toehold in Judas. When Judas saw the miracles of Jesus and heard talk of a kingdom, he was quite agreeable with Satan’s suggestion to join with the disciples. He had no idea of betraying Jesus at that time because of the position he would have as Financial Officer in the Kingdom with access to limitless wealth. Most of the disciples were unschooled men from Galilee but Judas was from Jerusalem and well educated. It was only logical that he should be the one to handle the contributions. He was ripe for Satan’s whisper. (John 12:6) that nobody would know if he helped himself to the offerings. So now Satan had a foothold in Judas. It was not until he heard shocking words (Matthew 26:12-16) which shattered his dreams and all hope of a highly-paid top job. He heard Jesus say that He was actually going to die so there would be no immediate kingdom on earth.
He left there with his head spinning but Satan said – this is a chance, your last chance to make some money out of Jesus. Judas agreed and went to negotiate a price for His betrayal. Now Satan had a stronghold in Judas and Judas became the devil’s helpless pawn. After Satan got all he could out of Judas he threw him away like worthless garbage. But at every stage he had a choice. Someone would have to fulfill the Scriptures and the Omniscient Lord knew that it would be Judas – BUT – it didn’t have to be Judas any more than it has to be you who perhaps will choose to disobey God to-day.
The Bible tell us (1 John 4:16) that God is love. How could our God of love say that he hates? There were twins in Rebecca’s womb (Romans 9:10-13) and before either one had done anything good or bad, God said - - Esau I have hated. When we use the word hate it contains the desire for revenge or to hurt and harm. With God that word ‘hate’ is different. He uses it as a comparison to His deep regard for those He loves.
Esau said (Genesis 25:32-34) what profit can the birthright do to me when I’m dying of hunger. Hungry? – yes, very. Dying? – an exaggeration to get what he wanted. Esau despised what God highly valued. He had more regard for a bowl of stew and scorned the birthright which came from God’s covenant, (Genesis 12:3) as beneath his notice.
The birthright meant more than the largest share of the inheritance; it was the ancestral line through which the Messiah would come into the world. Esau was a robust he-man, an outdoors man and a skillful hunter. He certainly did not need any religious crutch; he was totally self-sufficient – or so he thought. Sometimes the years bring a measure of sanity. Later – but too late – (Hebrews 12:16-17) remorse compelled him with bitter tears to search hopelessly for a place of repentance. God’s spirit (Genesis 6:3) will not always strive with man. There comes a time when choices cannot be undone and the consequences of those choices can be long-lasting, even eternal.
Jacob was (Genesis 27:1-29) a cheat, a deceiver, a swindler. Doesn’t sound very lovable, does he? Yet God said (Malachi 1:2) I have loved Jacob. Jacob was wrong and conniving on every point but his scheming had a goal. His motives and desires were good. He coveted the birthright, not for the money but for the high privilege of being an ancestor of the Messiah of Israel and Saviour of the world. Isaac had taught his sons about God’s covenant and Jacob was totally captivated. After years of sinful swindling, on a certain night, Jacob was alone (Genesis 32:24-31) and a MAN wrestled with him until daybreak. Jacob confessed his sin and the Angel of God blessed him and gave him a new name. Esau said – what good is the birthright? Jacob said – I will not let you go unless - - ). Better to be a crippled Jacob who seeks the Lord than an athletic Esau who despises God’s covenant promises. What Esau discarded, Jacob longed for and God gave him the desire of his heart.
Remember what Jesus said (John 14:30) the prince of this world has nothing in Me, nothing in Me belongs to him, so he has no power over me. After His baptism Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 4:11) into the wilderness. I heard from a Pastor who had been there that it is a desolate, barren place, cold at night, burning hot in the day and no water. Jesus was starving and dehydrated after 40 days and nights without food or water, so weak that He may have been near the point of death. Satan never attacks without a pre-planned strategy. When Jesus was at His very lowest and weakest, Satan threw his whole arsenal at Him. In His condition how could Jesus victoriously withstand the brutal attack on mind, emotions and body? Only one way was possible – the WORD OF GOD.
In our own strength we are no match for Satan but the Living Word of God will defeat him every time. Let us make sure there is no sin in our lives that we haven’t dealt with, no matter how small. A toehold can become a foothold, then a stronghold and we are unable to help ourselves. Let us say with Jesus – nothing in us belongs to Satan so he has no leverage, no power over us.
There was just one time that it might have looked like God was unfair. That was when He poured out Divine wrath and fierce punishment on the One and only perfect, sinless MAN in the whole world (2 Corinthians 5:21) so that we guilty sinners could escape the judgment we so richly deserved. Does that sound fair?
Stop right here and let wonder-filled gratitude invade every fibre of our being. Remember that the Son of God was an integral part of that planning meeting which took place (Revelation 13:8) before the foundation of the world. At that time, He fully agreed that He would become Jesus, the Lamb of God (JN1:29) Who would take away the sin of the world. Why would He want to pay this tremendous cost for our salvation? Because He so loved His Father and His Father is the God (John 3:16) Who so loved the world. He chose (Isaiah 9:6) to be the Child Jesus born unto us and the Son given unto us - - all the time knowing that Love always comes in the gift wrap of suffering.
If we, like Manasseh, have spent years in sin and disobedience, can God ever use us or produce anything worthwhile through us? Take a look! Through the long wicked but finally repentant Manasseh, God produced a grandson named Josiah. Josiah turned to the Lord with all his heart, soul and might (2 Kings 23:25) according to the Word of God. Before him or after him there was no king like him.
Let us trust the Lord Jesus to produce in us (Psalms 92:14) fruit, which we can continually bear even in old age.
Do you know – do you care what you have in your hands when you hold a Bible? Take a quick look at (2 Timothy 2:8-13). That was written by Paul in prison when he was chained up and alone in a dungeon. So how could you possibly get hold of it? He tells us the powerful secret. The Word of God is not bound and all his sufferings are not in vain, but worth it so that God’s Word will spread and many will be saved – even now over 2000 years later.
Pastor R. Simons – “William Tyndale is responsible for 80% of our English Bible. When he was tied to the stake, just before he was strangled and burned to death, he called out - - Oh Lord, open the king of England’s eyes. Two years later the king allowed the distribution of the English Bible to the common people. To-day, 500 years later, the Bible is still the best seller in the world”.
Do we remember how greatly so many were willing to suffer to bring us God’s Word – do we treasure our Bible – do we hide it in our hearts and let it dwell in us richly. The precious Blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. The blood of the martyrs preserved the Holy Scriptures for us. My heart is burning with longing for Your Word (Psalms 119:20, Psalms 119:66). Teach me good judgment, wise and right discernment and knowledge.