Day 12 – Authority

2 Chronicles 10:1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for everyone in Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king.

 2 So it happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (he was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon), that Jeroboam returned from Egypt.

 3 Then they sent for him and called him. Jeroboam and everyone in Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 “Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”

 5 Then he said to them, “Come back to me after three days.” The people departed.

 6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he was still living, saying, “How do you advise me to answer these people?”

 7 They spoke to him, saying, “If you are kind to these people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

 8 However, he rejected the advice which the elders had given him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.

 9 He said to them, “What advice do you give? How should we answer these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”

 10 Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to the people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’ —thus you will say to them: ‘My little finger will be thicker than my father’s waist! 11 Now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’”

 12 Then Jeroboam and the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had directed, saying, “Come back to me the third day.”

 13 Then the king answered them roughly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders, 14 and spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!”

 15 Thus, the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from Elohiym, that JEHOVAH might fulfill His word, which He had spoken by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

 16 When Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, “What share have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to your tents, O Israel! Now see to your own house, O David!” Thus, Israel departed to their tents.

 17 However, Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.

 18 Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who oversaw the revenue; but the children of Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. Therefore, King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste to flee to Jerusalem.

 19 Thus, Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

God’s names:

Elohiym – Supreme God

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Promise Keeper

Governments change hands when monarchs die or when people elect new presidents. People want to know what their new leaders will do for them.

Solomon died and Rehoboam reigned in his place. The people asked him to lighten their load, but he refused because the decision came from Elohiym, even though he consulted his father’s advisors and those he grew up with. With his refusal, the kingdom divided between Israel and Judah.

When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, you accepted His authority over you. You agreed to walk in His ways and do everything He told you. Yet many Christians pick and choose what they will do for Yeshuwa. When they don’t like what He asked of them, they rebel against His authority in their lives. Then they wonder why their lives are in turmoil.

Rehoboam fled from the people when they killed the person in charge of the revenue. Elohiym took the kingdom away from him leaving him only Judah.

When your life is in rebellion to Yeshuwa, He will give you only what you need, nothing more. Everything you desire will go unanswered until you accept Yeshuwa’s authority over your life and return to Him.

What does your life look like? Do you enjoy Yeshuwa’s blessings, or do you struggle from day to day?

Let’s pray: Father, take this rebellious heart and change it to one who accepts Your authority in my life. Give me a willing heart to do Your will so I enjoy Your blessings and not Your chastisement. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 30 January 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux