Will you set your children a shining path to follow?

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31: The story of young Manasseh is a very intriguing one. He was a young boy, set up as King of Israel at the tender age of twelve.

Think about it. Twelve years old. 

He was only a boy and had just begun to experience the release of biological hormones that would develop and change his physical make-up for the next 10 years. Manasseh was extremely young.

2 Chronicles 33:1

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:

2 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.

3  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.

As young as Manasseh was, he was old enough to know better.

At the age of 12 King Manasseh knew right from wrong.

In Bible numerology, the number 12 represents ‘governmental perfection’.

Twelve is the number of the Church, both the Old Covenant Church of Israel founded by 12 physical fathers (the 12 sons of Jacob-Israel), and the New Covenant Church founded by 12 spiritual fathers (the 12 Apostles). 

This number also has a relationship with multiples of 12.

All that had taken place before was now governing Manasseh, at age 12. 

Twelve years of training. He could only do that which he had seen. For the first 12 years of his life, he had been exposed to a culture that disrespected God and did what was right in its own eyes.

Manasseh, for 12 years, did as he pleased because the adults and examples around him did what they pleased.

Manasseh saw the wealth of his father who, at the time, was ignoring God and doing evil himself.

So, what do you think baby Manasseh, toddler Manasseh, and young Manasseh learned?

Let’s look at some of the legacy that King Manasseh had to live ‘up’ to:

Uzziah — this 12-year-old boy never saw his great-great grandfather Uzziah, but Uzziah’s influence was there.

Uzziah began well but succumbed to the prestige and power and forgot God. He died a leper of lesser honour than a king. A shame.

Jotham — this 12-year-old never saw his great-grandfather Jotham.

Jotham personally did right, but he did not go into the temple of the Lord, and the people were corrupt during his reign.

Because Jotham’s heart was right, he was buried in the tomb of the kings in The City of David. A shining light.

This 12-year-old probably saw his grandfather Ahaz, a wicked king.

Not only did he not serve and worship God, but he also built idols and encouraged the people to worship other gods.

King Ahaz literally shut the doors of the temple of the House of God. He was buried in Jerusalem, but not in the tombs of the kings. A disgrace.

This 12-year-old most certainly saw his father King Hezekiah.

Hezekiah began correctly and restored those things his own father had torn down.

Hezekiah opened up the doors of the House of God. Unfortunately, wealth got the better part of Hezekiah, and he was lifted up in pride.

The good thing is that before he died he returned to God. Hezekiah was buried in the tomb of kings in the City of David. An honourable end.

All of this is the history or the legacy of a young Manasseh. He grew up with considerable wealth, and experienced the time when his own father was removed from God and caught up in the wealth.

One can only imagine the decadent lifestyle that Manasseh was trained in; the ‘let yourself go’ lifestyle; the ‘I can do as I please’ lifestyle; the, ‘I have my own rights’ lifestyle.

Manasseh could claim to have been born into it and therefore he had no choice but to live it out.

So we now see Manasseh living out his life the way he was born.

The bottom line is that Manasseh chose to live a life that was not pleasing to God.

Parents be very careful how you handle the first 12 years of your child’s life.  That is the time you are creating how he or she will govern the rest of his or her life.

What is unfolding in Bermuda today is a direct result of the training of our youth. As you have sown to the wind, there is now the reaping of the whirlwind.

Why not begin to shift things today. Why not begin to train your up and coming Manassehs another way.

Oh, your Manasseh will be king. The concern is how will your king rule?

Create a platform today that will shine forth as a good example for the children of tomorrow.

Blessings abound.

• Dr Maria A Seaman is the pastor of Shekinah Worship Centre, North Shore, Hamilton Parish.