Today in God's Word—February 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
February 20, 2 Chronicles 10
So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by God that the LORD might fulfill his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. - 2 Chronicles 10:15
Regardless of how intelligent or capable a leader may be, the best leaders know they need advisors, So, presidents have a cabinet, CEOs have boards of directors. Others who lead in different capacities need a team of counselors or advisors, too. These support people help the leader by bringing different areas of knowledge and experience to the conference table.
The leader is not well-served by a chorus of "yes- men," whose only function is to put the rubber stamp of approval on the leader's ideas. One drastic example of a leader who knew the value of diverse viewpoints was Abraham Lincoln. He appointed political enemies to serve as his advisors and in his cabinet. Lincoln was smart enough to know that he needed more thoughts and opinions than his own to be an effective leader of a troubled nation.
Rehoboam's father Solomon wrote that there was safety and victory in an abundance of counselors. Like his father before him, Rehoboam had plenty of advisors, including older men who had served his father during his reign. But Rehoboam also asked advice from the young men he'd known all his life. These were probably the other sons of Solomon who grew up with Rehoboam in the royal harem of Solomon's many wives. When Rehoboam listened to them and allowed these half-brothers to write his speeches, he lost almost all his kingdom. I suppose Rehoboam's spectacular failure should remind us that not just the quantity of advisors is important; the quality of the advice they give is very important as well.
Rehoboam missed the blessing he could have enjoyed of ruling a strong, united kingdom because he rejected the older men’s kinder, gentler option. When he took the hard, hateful
advice of his younger counselors, he lost ten of the twelve tribes. Solomon's forced labor and high tax policies were not popular with the people, and when Rehoboam threatened to make their lives even harder, they rebelled and seceded from the union of the tribes. Rehoboam sent Hadoram (the master over forced labor, aka the head slave- driver) to get the tribes back in line. The rebels demonstrated their displeasure by killing the king’s messenger. Hadoram lost his life and Rehoboam lost his kingdom because of the king’s foolish choices.
Surely it’s wise to listen to competent counselors, and it's clear from this story that we should be discerning about the quality of the advice as well. But the text I chose for today makes another point we should learn and remember from this sad episode. Above Rehoboam's folly and the disastrous result of the king's actions, this whole business "was a turn of affairs brought about by God." God had already told Jeroboam he was going to strip the kingdom away from the house of David and give it to him. Rehoboam's foolish choices and actions were nothing more than the means God knew he would use to do what he told Jeroboam he was going to do. Rehoboam lost control, the nation seemed to be out of control, and Jeroboam appeared to be gaining control. But over it all, our Sovereign God was in complete control of the events and used them to accomplish his purpose.
Does that sound like a lesson we need? When I am anxious about a decision that I'm facing or the state of affairs in the world, when I'm anxious from all the clamor and confusion around me, I need to remember that God is in control. Yes, it's good to listen to good advice. Yes, it's important to remember Solomon's proverb, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger." But most of all, I need to remember that God is always completely in control. Maybe that would be helpful to you as well.
Copyright © 2023 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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