“But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.”
2 Chronicles 10:8
Rehoboam had succeeded his father Solomom as king of Israel. When approached by the Jeroboam and all Israel to lighten the burden of taxes, the elders advised that he be kind to the people and lessen the burden put upon them by his father. Rehoboam rejected the counsel of the elders and instead listened to the advice of the young men who had grown up with him. They advised him that he must increase the demands upon the people and be harsh toward them. Upon hearing this news Jeroboam and the people rejected Rehoboam as king causing the split of the nation. Jehoboam would rule the northern kingdom of Israel while Rehoboam the southern kingdom of Judah to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken previously.
What was a foolish, reckless decision by Rehoboam to listen to his young friends as opposed to the wise elders of his father’s day, was all purposed by God. “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.” (10:15). Behind the scenes God was in full control.
In His infinite wisdom and knowledge God knew that when given a choice in the matter, Rehoboam would chose to listen to his friends rather than the elders. He did not cause Rehoboam to make the wrong choice. He used the elders to speak wisdom, but allowed Rehoboam’s young friends to also speak. Because Rehoboam was not one to seek the Lord for wisdom he made the wrong decision, valuing the opinion of his friends over the wisdom of his elders. In our leadership we must be cautious about to whom we listen. God will not choose for us, nor cause to make the wrong choice, we are responsible for our decisions. In His great wisdom God did not violate the free will of man to choose, but neither did He fail in His sovereignty to fulfill the His word to Jeroboam.
This passage shows us first that we must be careful to heed the counsel of the wise. It also shows us that God is able to use the poor choices of men around us to fulfill His purposes for our lives. When men treat us with malice perhaps there is something behind the scenes which God is up to. He can and will use evil men and evil circumstances for our benefit. Let us rest in His wisdom and power which are far greater than we can fully understand.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. Does this passage tell us that all things that happen to us in life are good, or that God is able to use all things for good? What would you tell someone who is suffering now because of evil people?
