An illustration of the unfathomability of God's judgment can be found in the life of Asa, one of Judah's most commendable kings. He acted righteously before the Lord, fortifying his realm, abolishing idols throughout Judah, and dismantling the idolatry that had once plagued his predecessors from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, as well as the worship associated with high places and groves. Yet, this esteemed monarch, who had upheld virtue for three decades, ultimately fell from his initial splendor. In his latter years, he increasingly strayed from righteousness. He imprisoned the prophet Ananias for speaking truth against him, wrongfully executed many innocent people, and when he faced a grave affliction in his feet, he failed to seek the Lord in repentance and prayer for healing.
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Instead, he turned to physicians and herbalists. What a drastic decline from his earlier conduct! The once righteous king had transformed into an arrogant rebel against God's will, which had been conveyed to him through the prophet (2 Chronicles 15 and 16). In stark contrast, Manasseh, who led a life marked by rampant wickedness and had driven Judah into idolatry worse than that of the nations God had previously vanquished for Israel’s sake, recognized God's hand in his misfortunes. He repented, turned to the Lord, and experienced divine forgiveness and mercy (2 Chronicles 33:9). O Lord, how profound are your judgments!
THEOSIS