2 Chronicles 8-11

May 12

2 Chronicles 8-11

Solomon’s son, Rehoboam did not have the wisdom of his father. After Solomon died, Rehoboam became king. The people went to Rehoboam and asked him to lighten their load. The elders who had served with Solomon advised Rehoboam to listen to the people and they would always serve him. But Solomon’s peers advised him to answer harshly and tell the people that he would demand more from them than his father had demanded.

Rehoboam did not read his father’s advice written in the Proverbs. "How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life. Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:16-18, NIV)

The people of Israel, all except the tribes of Benjamin and Judah, turned away for Rehoboam, splitting Israel into two nations. Rehoboam allowed his pride, power and poor advice to destroy the kingdom given to him by his father. I reality this was ordained by God. God told Solomon that after he died, God would divide the kingdom because of Solomon’s disobedience.

"On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods. The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates." (1 Kings 11:7-11, NIV)

Our decisions, our actions do not only affect our lives, they affect the lives of our children and our children’s children. There are consequences for our actions. Even when we turn back to God and ask for forgiveness, there are still consequences. God promises to give wisdom to those who seek it. If we week wisdom rather than gold and understanding rather than silver, God will guide us so we do not bring consequences for our poor choices upon our children and future generations.