Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 14; 2 Chronicles 11:18 – 12:16
It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice. Such a youth could rise from poverty and succeed. He might even become king, though he has been in prison. But then everyone rushes to the side of yet another youth who replaces him. Endless crowds stand around him, but then another generation grows up and rejects him, too. So it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind. – Ecclesiastes 4:13-16
The feud between Jeroboam and Rehoboam continued. There was constant war between Judah and Israel (14:30). They both led God’s people in the worship of false gods, they both died, and they were both succeeded by their sons. Their reigns were marked by complete disregard of God and all He had commanded of His people. They were given the privilege of sitting in the top position of leadership, an opportunity to lead the people in a season of blessings from God, but they were too focused on the temporary pleasures of this world to invest in the things that are eternal.
Jeroboam’s son, Abijah, became very sick, so he sent his wife in disguise to ask the prophet Ahijah what would become of the boy. Even though Ahijah could no longer see clearly, he knew it was Jeroboam’s wife, for the Lord had already told him what to say to her.
WHY ARE YOU PRETENDING TO BE SOMEONE ELSE?
“Give your husband, Jeroboam, this message from the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I promoted you from the ranks of the common people and made you ruler over my people Israel. I ripped the kingdom away from the family of David and gave it to you. But you have not been like my servant David, who obeyed my commands and followed me with all his heart and always did whatever I wanted. You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made other gods for yourself and have made me furious with your gold calves. And since you have turned your back on me, I will bring disaster on your dynasty and will destroy every one of your male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel. I will burn up your royal dynasty as one burns up trash until it is all gone. The members of Jeroboam’s family who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the field will be eaten by vultures. I, the Lord, have spoken.’” – 1 Kings 14:7-11
When God allows someone to sit in a place of influence, it is for His purposes and to advance His Kingdom. But the temptation of leadership is to make it about us — to become addicted to authority and to start advancing our own agendas. Arrogance sets in and we lose track of why God placed us in the leadership seat in the first place.
If God created you to do something and He has in mind for you to be something, then why are you doing your own thing and why are you pretending to be someone else? Why are you living in your own confidence when God has strategically positioned you to do amazing things by His power and with His favor? You have been given an opportunity and you are wasting it.
During Rehoboam’s reign, the people of Judah did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, provoking his anger with their sin, for it was even worse than that of their ancestors. For they also built for themselves pagan shrines and set up sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. There were even male and female shrine prostitutes throughout the land. The people imitated the detestable practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. – 1 Kings 14:22-24
In the fifth year of his reign, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and carried away the treasuries of the Lord’s Temple, including all of the gold shields King Solomon had made. Rehoboam replaced them with bronze shields, but they were a cheap imitation of what God had once blessed His people with.
WHY ARE YOU SETTLING FOR A CHEAP IMITATION OF THE LIFE GOD PLANNED FOR YOU?
When we choose to live our lives our own way, seeking our own happiness rather than bringing glory to God, we miss out on God’s best. We become a cheap imitation of what life could have been. Eventually we will die and life will go on without us, and we will have missed our opportunity to write an amazing chapter in God’s story.
Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger was turned away, and he did not destroy him completely. There were still some good things in the land of Judah. – 2 Chronicles 12:12
It is not too late. We serve a God of grace and mercy. He has given us the Spirit to guide us back onto the path He planned for us. God loves a repentant heart who is willing to humble themselves and make retribution for the actions of the past. Consider how God used Samson on the last day of his life.
Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime. – Judges 16:28-30
I believe that God has positioned you for great things ahead. He is calling you back to His purposes and His plan. If you will keep your eyes on your Creator and lean your ears towards His Spirit, He will place before you opportunities. You will be brought into the conversation, and God will strategically position you so that He can do great things through you. And the world will be a better place because you are a devoted follower of Christ.
Jeroboam reigned over Israel for twenty-two years, and then he died. His son, Nadab, followed him as King of Israel. Rehoboam reigned over Judah for seventeen years. He was buried with his ancestors — David and Solomon — and his son, Abijam, became the next king of Judah. And life went on.