2 Chronicles 11 & 12: Never Fight With Your Brothers
Verse of the Day: (11:4) Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.
1. Fight (11:1-4)
And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. (11:1)
After a great empire came a fallen nation because of the pride of man. Though God blessed King Solomon with wisdom and a great empire, he failed God in his later years because of pride. After his death, Rehoboam, his son, took over him, and the kingdom split as Rehoboam also failed because of pride. Instead of uniting the people of Israel, he gathered the warriors from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and declared war with his own people led by Jeroboam who was now leading the 10 tribes of Israel. God through Prophet Shemaiah then told Rehoboam never to fight with his brothers. Indeed, let us dwell in unity and never fight one another, as we are made in God’s image. (Psalms 133)
2. Fortify (11:5-23)
And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine. (11:11)
King Rehoboam could not trust Jeroboam as he fortified his cities in Judah and Benjamin with provision of food, oil and wine, and armed his people with swords, spears and shields, and ready to fight against Jeroboam and his 10 tribes. However, he led his people to forsake God and His Word, and he married many wives, and subsequently God severely punished them. Indeed, let us love and obey God, as He is our Rock and Fortress, and only He is able to protect and preserve our lives now and forever. (Psalms 18:1-2)
3. Forsake (12:1-16)
And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. (12:1)
God allowed King Shishak of Egypt to invade and defeat Jerusalem because Rehoboam and his people forsook God. However, God delivered them from the Egyptians when they humbled themselves and turned to Him. Nevertheless, God humbled them by making them served the Egyptians. It was a humbling experience for Israel as once they were the most powerful nation on earth under David and Solomon, and now they were servants to the Egyptians. Indeed, let us humble ourselves, and trust and obey God, knowing that He is our Helper and Deliverer, and He shall never leave nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:1-6)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to love and never fight with my brothers for Your sake.
