Blessings to you all!
1st Kings chapter 12.
After King Solomon's death, all Israel was ready to make his son Rehoboam the new king. but because of his selfish and arrogant heart, Rehoboam missed a huge blessing. He could have been a king over all Judah and Israel but he lost the focus on serving the people. Instead he wanted to force labor on them so that they served him while carrying a great burden upon themselves. As result, all Israel rebelled against him and he ran in fear. So Rehoboam became king over Judah and Benjamin and Jeroboam became king over Israel.
Because of his arrogance and selfish heart he missed a huge blessing from God. I wonder what blessings I miss each day because I lose focus on what's most important? Am I selfish and arrogant seeking what's for self vs what's for the Lord? Am I rejecting the advice of the Holy Spirit and pursuing what's in my heart verses what's in God's heart? God help me pursue all of you and not just part of you. Forgive me when I fail. Help me reject evil when it is laid before me. I want all you have for me. I don't want just Judah or Benjamin I want all you have for me!!
Jeroboam was chosen by God to be king over all Israel because of Rehoboam's evil heart. I was excited for Jeroboam and was looking to him as being a wise servant of the Lord and in leadership position. How disappointed I was when I read when fear struck him, he caved to fear and let fear control his heart. Because he feared Israel would eventually choose Rehoboam as king and kill him, he made false gods for them to follow so they'd stay close by him versus traveling to Jerusalem near King Rehoboam to worship the Lord. I was hoping he'd be a role model and faithful to the Lord. Then it hit me! Am I faithful to the Lord and am I a role model for others to follow? Do I let fear control my heart and decisions or do I let the Holy Spirit direct me?
What fear is alive in my heart today and how do I let it control me?
It’s so important to choose the right people to listen to and to be able to follow good advice. Some people may lead us in the wrong direction. Rehoboam chose to listen to those who were his same age instead of those who were older. He made a terrible mistake with this bad decision because it was selfish and unkind. The kingdom was divided.
Here are other Bible verses that I was reminded about today.
Proverbs 19:20
Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.
Colossians 3:12-14
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Jim, thank you for sharing those two related verses. I really enjoyed reading them and it really added on to today’s reading. In this chapter fear caused Jeroboam to make idols and he along with many others worshiped those false gods. Jeroboams choices didn’t just negatively effect his own life, In my own life how are my choices influencing others? How are they causing those around me to turn to God or away from him…