The book of 1 KINGS 12:1-15 gives an insight into the effect of Rehoboam’s decision on the kingdom of Israel, after the death of Solomon. The leaders of the northern tribes of Israel met Rehoboam at Shechem to iron out some issues.
Though they were willing to make him their king because they wanted the kingdom to remain united, they were not comfortable with Solomon’s high-handedness and they wanted Rehoboam to review it.
Rehoboam asked for time to enable him seek for advice. He ought to have prayed about this and seek for God’s advice, but he never did. He did not even ask a prophet or a priest to advise him. He possibly was afraid that God would tell him something contrary to his plan – not to rule the northern tribes.
The elderly men who served Solomon, with better experience, knew certain things which Rehoboam probably did not know. They had respect for Solomon because of his godly wisdom and fair judgments which they possibly believed Rehoboam did not have.
They thus advised him to agree with the people’s demands. But the younger men, whose advice he equally sought, never had any experience on the act of governance.
They thought the Israelites could be controlled with strong words.
Unfortunately, Rehoboam rejected the advice of those elderly leaders and chose the advice of his peers. This proved disastrous.
He who sows the wind, must reap the whirlwind and whatsoever a man sows, he reaps. Rehoboam sowed utter foolishness and reaped disaster.
Those given to impulsive decisions, without mediation and prayers, must be prepared for the dire consequences.
“Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat” (1 Kings 12:15).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Eternal values, not temporal ones, should determine a believer’s decisions.