Remember that vengeful and smite-y G from Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and just about every other book we’re explored in the Twible so far?

I think he’s becoming an old softy.

Sure, G still practices tough love, as we’ve seen with the exile. (Uh, a heads up about next week: Chronicles isn’t going to end on a happy note. I’m really sorry.) But think how long it’s taken G to get to the boiling point this time. After enduring strings of bad kings (and a wicked queen or two), G’s like that long-suffering parent who’s still hoping against hope that the kids will turn around.

We see in 2 Chronicles 33 that God forgives King Manasseh repeated philanderings with foreign gods, complete with all the trappings: idols, sacred poles, soothsaying, and the beyond-the-pale practice of making his son pass through the fire. Blech.

Manasseh doesn’t deserve forgiveness, but when he repents that’s what he gets. A full pardon. This is good to see–we are finally being presented with a picture of God that is more consistent with the goodness we sing about and hope for. But it’s quite a transformation from G burning up the hapless sons of Aaron for laying an altar fire incorrectly, or destroying the whole world by flood because he had lousy day.

G, like many of us, is softening with age.

Sat 11/13
#Twible 2 Chron 27: Finally, a righteous king. It’s about freakin’ time. But good kings are boring, so this is the shortest chapter.

Sun 11/14
#Twible 2 Chron 28: King Ahaz sells tix to Baal Ball. Come one, come all! Main event is child sacrifice, though, so don’t sample the punch.

Mon 11/15
#Twible 2 Chron 29: Hezekiah does massive spring cleaning in the temple. Out with the new, in with the old. Bye-bye, Baal: back to basics.

Tues 11/16
#Twible 2 Chron 30: Hey, remember that Passover thing from Exodus? Let’s, like, totally do that. With matzoh ball soup & everything. You in?

Wed 11/17
#Twible 2 Chron 31: People are so generous in giving food to temple priests that Hez organizes trip to Container Store for extra storage.

Thurs 11/18
#Twible 2 Chron 32: Judah has schadenfreude moment as Israel gets pummeled by Assyria. We’d never say “I told you so,” infidels, but . . .

Fri 11/19
#Twible 2 Chron 33: Kg Manasseh sows wild oats w/foreign gods before 180° conversion. G lets him off the hook. Nice guy, that G! Sometimes.