Read: 2 Chronicles 32-34.
Marked: 2 Chronicles 33:10-11, And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen. Therefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze [fetters,] and carried him off to Babylon.
God speaks to us. He speaks to us through His Word and through those He sends. He also speaks through the consequences of our failure to listen.
The Assyrians were known for their cruelty. They cut the tongues out of prisoners mouths to quiet their screams when they were flayed alive or impaled. Blinding was another torture inflicted on prisoners, as was amputation.
In verse 11 Manasseh and his people were taken with hooks driven through their lips or noses and lead by leashes to Babylon.
Manasseh experienced this cruelty and in his affliction he sought God and implored him to save him and his people. In Manasseh’s humility the Lord acted and brought him back to Jerusalem.
Oh that we would hear when God speaks; that we would listen to His Word. What cruelty and suffering could we avoid if we would just listen?
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