II Chronicles 10 (NIV)

Summary:

Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam
Verses 1-19

Israel was at Shechem to make Rehoboam king.  Jereboam son of Nebat was in Egypt, because he had fled there from Solomon.  Jereboam heard about Rehoboam, so he returned to Israel.  He brought the Israelites to the new king and they asked for him to lighten the load that Solomon had put on them.  Rehoboam told them to return in three days for his answer.

Rehoboam consulted with the elders that had served Solomon.  They told him to be kind and favorable to the people and they would always serve him.  Rehoboam rejected them and consulted the young men serving him, with whom he had grown up.  They told him to tell the Israelites that his pinky finger was greater than his father's waist, that he would make their burden greater.  They also told him to say that, whereas Solomon had used whips to scourge them, Rehoboam would use scorpions.

When the Israelites returned to him, after the three days, Rehoboam told them what the young men had advised.  This was in accordance to the word God had spoken to Jereboam through Ahijah the Shilonite.  The people then asked what part they had with David.  They decided to look after their own houses, so they went home and abandoned Rehoboam.

Rehoboam remained king over Judah only.  He sent out Adoniram, the head of forced labor, to the Israelites.  The Israelites stoned him to death.  Rehoboam, however, escaped on his chariot to Jerusalem.  Israel has been in rebellion against David's house to this day.

Lori's Thoughts:

You can say that again.  I mentioned before the controversy over Israel's capital.  It was Jerusalem in Solomon's time.  Some still argue that it is.  But, the majority of Israel hold that Tel Aviv is the capital.  Functionally and politically, it is.

The big lesson here is this:  God set families up so that there would be a leader/counselor/guide for each.  Our elders aren't always right.  But, they have more experience than we do and they're worth listening to.

The underlying lesson is of humility.  When put in a position of power, we should not assume that we're greater than our predecessor.  We should work hard to be as great and ask God to help us be greater.  By our own power, we stumble and fall.  Rehoboam's pride let do the division of the world's greatest nation.  Although Judah did well for a while, eventually, all tribes fell away from God into idolatry.

In everything, lean on God.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."  (Proverbs 3:5-6)