30 Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam [1 Kings 12:1–33]
The Bible passage: [1 Kings 12:1–33]
The Story:
King Solomon had designated his son Rehoboam to succeed him as king. King Solomon died around 931 BC.
There was a man named Jeroboam. When Jeroboam was a young man, King Solomon had made him a superintendent over the people of his tribe. He was very familiar with the widespread discontent that was caused by the extravagance of the king. He began to form a conspiracy to become king, but this was discovered, and he had fled to Egypt. He remained in Egypt until the death of Solomon.
When Jeroboam heard that Rehoboam was about to be crowned the new king, he went with most of the elders of Israel to speak to Rehoboam. “Your father made our life harsh. You need to lighten the heavy load your father put on us, and we will serve you.”
Rehoboam replied, “Go home for three days and then come back.” So the people left.
Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon when he was alive, and he asked them, “How should I respond to these people?”
They replied, “If you want to show the people that you will serve them, and if you will speak kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”
But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders who had advised him and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him.
He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who said, ‘Lighten the burden your father put on us’?”
The young men who had grown up with him told him, “Tell these people, ‘My little finger is stronger than my father’s legs! My father burdened you with a heavy load, I will add to your load; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips.’”
Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had ordered.
He rejected the advice the elders had given him. Following the young men’s advice, he answered the people harshly: “My father made your load heavy, but I will add to your load; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips.”
The ten northern tribes went home to establish their own nation, installing Jeroboam as their king. This nation came to be referred to as Israel.
The two southern tribes continued under the leadership of Rehoboam and was referred to as Judah.
All of this came about in keeping with the prophesy of a man named Ahijah, who had prophesied that the kingdom would be split and Rehoboam would only rule over a part of Solomon’s kingdom. God declared that the kingdom would be divided because they had refused to follow His laws and statutes.
When Rehoboam arrived back in Jerusalem, he mobilized 180,000 warriors from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to fight against the northern tribes; to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam, son of Solomon.
A revelation from God came to a man of God named Shemaiah. He told this revelation to Rehoboam and the whole tribes of Judah and Benjamin, “The Lord says that you are not to march up and fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Each of you must return home, for this is My will.”
The people of Judah listened to what the Lord said and went back home as instructed.
After establishing the northern kingdom of Israel, Jeroboam said to himself, “If these people go to offer sacrifices in the Temple in Jerusalem, they will turn back to follow Rehoboam king of Judah.”
The king asked for advice, then he had two gold calves made. He said to the people, “Going to Jerusalem is too much trouble. Here is your God who brought you out of Egypt.” He set up one in Bethel and the other one in Dan.
This led the people to sin; they worshipped the calves in Dan and Bethel. Jeroboam also built shrines and set up priests from every class of people; people who were not Levites. Jeroboam created worship festivals like the ones in Judah. He had his priests copy all of the sacrifices and rituals that God had commanded for His people.
The Lessons:
- The people of the northern kingdom initially rebelled against King Rehoboam, but ultimately, they rebelled against God. By creating places of worship outside of Jerusalem and golden calf idols, they completely went against God’s instructions.
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