Each generation comes into relationships with what they have learned and seen demonstrated from their parents and grandparents.  It’s all we know, it’s our natural “go to” response—until we see what others do.  As we watch others who we want to please and be like; we begin to take on the ways and norms of what they demonstrate when handling life’s circumstances and relationships.  We form new rules of engagement—even if it does not follow the wisdom of our fathers and mothers—or of God, Himself. 

King Solomon died. Rehoboam, the son of Solomon whose wisdom was known around the world, has taken his place on the throne as king—but without his wisdom and good judgement. Abounding in pride, the young king turned down the wisdom of older counselors and then to his contemporaries. The outcome of his mistake in judgement resulted in dividing the nation of Israel!

But God…intervened. God will use King Rehoboam’s pride to accomplish his divine plan. Due to Solomon’s sin, (of which pride was the motivator of his sins), God planned to divide the kingdom. God uses sinful decisions to accomplish his plan.  There is no one like our God!

2 Chronicles 10

Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam

Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. ² When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. ³ So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: ⁴ “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

⁵ Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people went away.

⁶ Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.

⁷ They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”

⁸ But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. ⁹ He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

¹⁰ The young men who had grown up with him replied, “The people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. ¹¹ My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

¹² Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” ¹³ The king answered them harshly. Rejecting the advice of the elders, ¹⁴ he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” ¹⁵ So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

¹⁶ When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:

“What share do we have in David,
    what part in Jesse’s son?
To your tents, Israel!
    Look after your own house, David!”

So all the Israelites went home. ¹⁷ But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.

¹⁸ King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. ¹⁹ So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We need to understand more fully how God works as His will is done for our good.  When we sin or others sin against us—all is not lost. God knows and God will intervene on our behalf when we ask Him. Life isn’t fair; but that doesn’t mean God has given up his sovereignty and authority.

Let’s step back to Genesis to recall the story of Joseph—

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”—Joseph, forgave his brothers who sold him into Egyptian slavery. At the point in the story God made Joseph ruler and advocate for Israel! Genesis 50:20. Read the whole amazing story of God in Joseph!

God has done it before and He will do it again—and again!  It is God who uses the evil in our world intended for bad; turn life upside down and all around to accomplish a good outcome. Only God.  Though humans have bad intentions or commit evil acts; God can work through those events to bring about ultimately a good result, often one that we never dreamed possible or foreseeable.

Who do we listen to when we need help in decision making when our world has been turned upside down?  How great are our own listening skills?

“What the world needs now, is love, sweet love.” This popular song comes to mind at the moment and I’m smiling. Could it be that God’s Holy Spirit is convicting and correcting me in my skills as a listener?  The lyrical meaning of this song needs to be expanded to what the world needs desperately now is someone who will truly listen before responding. 

We tend to snap judgements based only on what we perceive to know about the person talking in front of us.  Since our time is deemed more precious; we listen halfheartedly with a greater desire to move with our own lives so we offer lame advice with catchy church phrases.  Yikes, our listening skills need to be honed by God who is Love. 

“What’s love got to do with it?” (Yes, another popular song!)  Real listeners with the love of God in their hearts have a desire to understand what is really being said.  God’s love in us not only helps us listen to their words; we seek to know and listen to their hearts.  We may or may not know immediately how to meet a need; but that should not deter us from listening.

God’s loving listeners close the laptops, look into the eyes of the person speaking to pause to truly hear with compassion. 

Our desire is to help them with their need not wave them away with a quick response. And guess what; we don’t have to know all the answers!  “I don’t know” is an viable, honest response.  God does not expect us to know what He knows.  Added to our “I don’t know;” can be “but let’s search God’s Word for the help.”  A bonus way to really seek the answers needed can be; “let’s go together to those who love and know God’s Word for help.”  The bottom lines is this: People want to be seen AND HEARD. Most times, just being heard is all they need.  I’ve seen and heard it with my own eyes and ears!  Listen closely, prayerfully, for a quick piece of advice can hurt more than it helps.

Ask God for the opportunity to spend time with someone this week who needs a listening ear. Ask God’s Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in all our responses. Then be prepared to respond when God sends someone. “The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say at the moment when you need them.” Luke 12:12

And what about this king who listened to bad advice?  What life does to us depends on what life finds in us. Life’s pressures bring out the best or the worst in people. During Rehoboam’s reign of seventeen years, the way he responded to situations revealed what kind of a person he really was.  What we truly believe is expressed in our behaviors in all kinds of circumstances.

Lord,

Cleanse our hearts, remove all that does not belong. Open our eyes to see your glory at work all around us—and in us. Open our ears to hear You first; then respond with listening ears to others. Renew our minds to think more like you. Refresh our souls with your new, tender mercies for today.  Restore the joy of your salvation at work within us to make us holy before you.  Guide us in all we think, say, listen to, and then do. Help us to be still, hear you to know You.

In Jesus Name, Amen