The Story Is Building

Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to hear Rehoboam’s decision, just as the king had ordered. But Rehoboam spoke harshly to the people, for he rejected the advice of the older counselors and followed the counsel of his younger advisers. He told the people, “My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!” [1 Kings 12.12-14]

This story is really interesting. Rehoboam seemed to really be a jerk. Because of that, most of Israel followed Jeroboam. The kingdom was divided.

Later, Rehoboam mustered and army of 180,000 troops and intended to go to war with Israel and Jeroboam. However, the prophet Shemaiah, representing God, said they should not attack their relatives in Israel.

But God said to Shemaiah, the man of God, “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the people of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, ‘This is what the LORD says: Do not fight against your relatives, the Israelites. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!’” So they obeyed the message of the LORD and went home, as the LORD had commanded. [1 Kings 12.22-24]

Interestingly enough, the "jerk" king Rehoboam submitted to God and did not attack Israel.

But there's more.

But all the priests and Levites living among the northern tribes of Israel sided with Rehoboam. The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and property and moved to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons would not allow them to serve the LORD as priests. [2 Chronicles 11.13-14]

The priests of God left Jeroboam to follow Rehoboam because Jeroboam re-initiated idol worship and refused to let the Priests and Levites do their priestly duties.

Is there something good in Rehoboam that is not seen initially? The story is still building...

Father, help me to see what you are doing in the lives of Jeroboam and Rehoboam during the time of Israel's division.