An unfortunate turn of events to say the least. As Rehoboam makes some of his first decisions as king of Israel, we see him taking unwise advice. When we seek to find the advice our hearts want instead of need, we fall into a similar trap. We should be careful not to seek advice from only those likeminded. When we do, it’s often we are only seeking our will, not the will of the Lord.
Let’s notice this though, “So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from God, that the Lord might fulfill His word, which He had spoken by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.” 2 Chronicles 10:15
Spurgeon wrote, “Notice also, dear friends, that God is in events which are produced by the sin and the stupidity of men. This breaking up of the kingdom of Solomon into two parts was the result of Solomon’s sin and Rehoboam’s folly; yet God was in it: “This thing is from me, saith the Lord.” God had nothing to do with the sin or the folly, but in some way which we can never explain, in a mysterious way in which we are to believe without hesitation, God was in it all.”
Even in the bad, the Father reigns in the good! A day we call “Good Friday” is a day in history marked with sin and folly. In the same way the Father had nothing to do with sin and folly, He had much to do with the sacrifice for the remission of sins we celebrate today. No, what happened to Jesus wasn’t good on this day physically, but spiritually death was forever overcome. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:8-10
The best advice we can receive is from the Holy Spirit and the Word. Turn to Jesus, turn to His Word, and know He isn’t in the sin and folly of the day. He is for sure in redemption, forgiveness, and empowerment though. Hebrews 12:1-2
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.