Friday, June 01, 2012

Friday, June 01, 2012

Rehoboam (Solomon's son) is made king of Israel following Solomon's
death. Soon after, the nation of Israel is divided and never again
will be unified. This division occurs when Rehoboam chooses to work
Israel even harder than his father did rather than reduce their
burden. Ten of Israel's tribes defect to Jeroboam. Only the tribes of
Judah and Benjamin remain with Rehoboam. Unfortunately, neither
Rehoboam nor Jeroboam are good leaders. While Rehoboam wanted to
oppress his people, Jeroboam led the ten tribes that followed him
straight into idolatry.

Jeroboam feared his people would give their allegiance to Rehoboam
when they needed to go to Jerusalem (where Rehoboam ruled) to offer
sacrifices to the Lord. This fear forced Jeroboam to make two golden
calves for his people to worship. He said to the people, "It is too
much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who
brought you out of Egypt" (1 Kings 12:28). Jeroboam feared loosing
power over his people more than he feared God. Jeroboam cared more
about his power, his flesh, than about God. In Galatians 6:8, it says,
"Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap
destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will
reap eternal life." What's more important to you today? Your power?
Your flesh? Or God's power?

Let's make the eternal God greater in our hearts than the temporary
world is in our eyes. "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to
you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether
the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of
the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my
household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15).

God Bless,
Anthony