Affairs Brought About by God

In 2nd Chronicles 10, Solomon has just died and Rehoboam his son his reigning in his stead. Though Solomon was the wisest man to have ever lived, he did not retain his wisdom in his latter years as he gave himself over the lust of his flesh, the lust of his eyes and the pride of life.  These sins can be seen in his disobedience to the law of God when he accumulated horses from Egypt (Deut 17:16), accumulated foreign wives (Deut 17:17), accumulated silver and gold (Deut 17:17), did not heed the Word of God by reading it through all the days of his life so that he would learn to reverence God and do what he found in it (Deut 17:19), and did not walk humbly but thought himself above others (Deut 17:20).  He was also to write out Genesis through Deuteronomy and study it.  It would be safe to assume that he did this which sustained his early days of his wisdom.

 

When Rehoboam his son takes over, it is inevitable that he will fall into the sins of his father.  When counseled to be a servant to his people, he rejects the wise counsel of his elders (2nd Chron10:13) and begins speaking arrogantly to his people.  Then a very unusual thing occurs and is recorded in 2nd Chronicles 10:15...It says: "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..."  Behind the scenes God is working to accomplish His end.  Recognizing our errors when we make them is the lesson here. An inability to recognize our errors is evidence that we have become disconnected from the truth that God is in control of “everything.”  When conflict begins to occur, we need to ask ourselves if God is orchestrating everything behind the scenes in order to humble us.  We are so full of ourselves that we are ready to launch an attack, even against our own family members.  And this is exactly what Rehoboam is about to do.  In chapter 11 of 2^nd Chronicles, Rehoboam assembles 180,000 chosen warriors to fight against his extended family, Israel.  “But the Word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God: Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah and Benjamin, ‘Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives. Return every man to his home, for this thing is from Me.’  So they listened to the Word of the LORD and returned and did not go against Jeroboam.”

 

The truth found in these texts is so powerful and so convicting.  Understanding that God is working out His sovereign plan behind the scenes of our lives is foundational to a life of peace.  As I watched horrific mistakes occur during my father’s final hours in the hospital, I am at times tempted to want to blame and rise up and hold people accountable.  During the days of grieving after his death, there were times when I felt a certain family member was not behaving with the consideration due me during this time of great loss.  However, when I ponder the truths found in 2^nd Chronicles 10 and 11, that these things were turn of affairs brought about by God…. for this thing is from Me, I am silenced, and begin the process of humbling myself, for who am I to challenge the plan of an all wise God.