2 Chronicles 10 - Kindom Division

LINK: 2 Chronicles 10
Parallel passage: 1 Kings 12

by Katrina

BACKGROUND
Upon Solomon's death in 931 B.C., his son Rehoboam was to become king. So Rehoboam went to Shechem for his coronation. There, he was confronted by Jeroboam.

Who was Jeroboam? He was an Ephraimite who had rebelled against Solomon and had therefore been sent by Solomon to oversee the forced labor in Egypt (1 Kings 11:26-28). As Jeroboam was traveling, the prophet Ahijah met him and told him that the kingdom would be torn in two and he would become king over Israel. God would preserve Judah and Jerusalem for David's descendants to reign on the throne there (1 Kings 11:29-39). Because of this prophecy, Solomon wanted to put Jeroboam to death, so Jeroboam took refuge in Egypt until Solomon's death (1 Kings 11:40).

Now that Solomon died and his son is about to begin reigning, Jeroboam left Egypt and returned to Israel. He asked Rehoboam to reduce the labor of the people of Israel. Rehoboam sought the advice of the wise elders of Israel as well as of his young, inexperienced, and foolish friends. He rejected the wisdom of the elders and chose to follow the foolish advice of his friends. He would not reduce the labor of the people, but would increase their labor.

Jeroboam took this opportunity to lead a rebellion of the ten northern tribes and establish the kingdom of Israel as a separate nation. And so a new nation of Israel was born out of rebellion and continued throughout its entire history to live in rebellion against the house of David and against God.

REFLECTION
"So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of events from God that the LORD might establish His word, which He spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat" (v 15, emphasis added).

This reminds me of Pharoah. "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Pharoah will not listen to you, so that My wonders will be multiplied in the land of Egypt.' And Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh; yet the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land" (Exodus 11:9-10, emphasis added).

Proverbs 21:1 says, "The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes." And Proverbs 16:9 says, "The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps."

These verses speak of the sovereignty of God. He has complete control over a situation, even when it doesn't appear that way in our view.

APPLICATION
The sovereignty of God is a comfort for those of us who are believers. Romans 8:28 tell us that God uses his sovereignty for our good. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Take some time today to worship God, praising him for his sovereignty over all things.

PRAYER
Lord, you are a great and powerful God. You control all that happens. You are also a very loving God and in your love for us, provide all things for our benefit. We don't always see or understand how it works, and sometimes we can't see the benefit, but it gives us comfort to know that you are in control. Only an omnipotent and omniscient God could be a sovereign God. You are all these things, and we worship you. Amen.