Day 13 – Plans

2 Chronicles 11:1 Now when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled from the house of Judah and Benjamin one hundred and eighty thousand warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

 2 However, the word of JEHOVAH came to Shemaiah the man of Elohiym, saying, 3 “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to everyone in Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, 4 ‘Thus says JEHOVAH, “You will not go up or fight against your brethren! Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.”’” Therefore, they obeyed the words of JEHOVAH and turned back from attacking Jeroboam.

 5 Thus, Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah.

 6 He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7 Beth Zur, Sochoh, Adullam, 8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and Benjamin, fortified cities.

 11 He fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine. 12 Also, in every city he put shields and spears, and made them strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

 13 From their territories the priests and the Levites who were in Israel took their stand with him. 14 For the Levites left their common-lands and their possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them from serving as priests to JEHOVAH.

 15 Then he (Jeroboam) appointed for himself priests for the high places, for the demons, and the calf idols which he had made.

 16 After the Levites left, those from the tribes of Israel, such as set their heart to seek JEHOVAH Elohiym of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to JEHOVAH Elohiym of their fathers.

 17 Thus, they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, because they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.

 18 Then Rehoboam took for himself as wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliah the son of Jesse. 19 She bore him children: Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham.

 20 After her he took Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

 21 Now Rehoboam loved Maachah the granddaughter of Absalom more than his other wives and his concubines; for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines and begot twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

 22 Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maachah as chief, to be leader among his brothers; for he intended to make him king.

 23 He dealt wisely and dispersed some of his sons throughout the territories of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city; and he gave them provisions in abundance. He also sought many wives for them.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Sovereign

How do you know you’re doing the right thing? Life seems to go in the right direction, and then trouble crops up from unexpected places. Negotiation isn’t possible and everything you thought would go well, didn’t.

Rehoboam became king after his father, Solomon, died. When he refused the demands of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, he prepared for war. However, JEHOVAH stopped the war before it took place. Instead, Rehoboam built up the cities and fortified them. Then the priests and Levites came to him from the other tribes to minister in Judah and Jerusalem. Things looked up for him both in the kingdom and in his family.

When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, you agreed to obey Him and follow Him in everything He told you. Many times, Christians will make plans without direction from Yeshuwa, and the plans fall apart before they begin.

Rehoboam accepted the new direction JEHOVAH planned for him when He told him not to go to war with his brethren. You need to accept Yeshuwa’s plans for your life. It might not look like you’re doing anything significant for the body of Christos, but you are.

When you put a puzzle together, every piece has a place. When pieces are lost the puzzle is incomplete. When you don’t do what Yeshuwa plans for your life, you are incomplete. You have a role to play in Yeshuwa’s plans.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says JEHOVAH, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and hope.

Yeshuwa’s plans prevail over your plans. Rehoboam learned that when he planned to go to war against Jeroboam. It wasn’t JEHOVAH’S plan. His plan was to divide the kingdom because of Solomon’s disobedience when he built altars to the various elohiym of his wives. JEHOVAH told him what would happen in the dedication prayer if he disobeyed. He carried out His plan with Rehoboam and Jeroboam.

Rehoboam’s life became stable as he took wives and built up his family. Your life will become stable when you live your life according to Yeshuwa’s plans for you.

Let’s pray: Father, I want Your plans for my life. Help me seek Your face to know Your plans for my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 31 January 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux