SCRIPTURE: 2 Chronicles 11
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
This is what the Lord says: Do not fight against your relatives. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!’” So they obeyed the message of the Lord and did not fight against Jeroboam. [2 Chronicles 11:4]
But all the priests and Levites living among the northern tribes of Israel sided with Rehoboam. The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and property and moved to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons would not allow them to serve the Lord as priests. [2 Chronicles 11:13-14]
According to this message to Rehoboam, the Lord is behind this division.
He allows a separation to take place, not because He enjoys rivalry and dissension but because it helps clarify allegiances, to show where peoples’ hearts are in relation to Him.
Here we see that the religious leaders must make a choice – be faithful to God and to His kingdom purpose, or be faithful to their own survival and comfort.
This choice meant abandoning their property and possessions, to follow the Lord.
Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household! If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. [Matthew 10:34-39]
The religious leaders faced this difficult choice, and so did any who considered following Jesus.
It seems that God knows that loyalty to Him will cause division, yet He allows it to happen, even predicts it.
Division is an unavoidable part of living in this sinful, messed up world.
Though we are to love our neighbour, we are first to love God and obey His will.
This is not an excuse to be unloving to our neighbour, but it does mean that our love for people (or ourselves) cannot take precedence over our love for and loyalty to God.
Imagine the scenario: a young muslim decides to follow Jesus – a capitol offence in most muslim countries – and his family threatens to disown him if he does not reject Jesus and return to their family faith.
He risks losing everything and keeping Jesus, or he risks losing Jesus and keeping family and peace.
What does he choose? What would you choose?
I recently heard this story for real through the testimony of Wagdi Iskander – if you ever get a chance to hear his testimony, it is amazing!
People all over the world face this choice still today.
Keep this in mind as you share your faith in Jesus, how hard a decision it is, and the price that many pay to be faithful to the Lord.
And pray for them, support them if/when they convert!
PRAYER:
Lord, show me how I can support or help someone who has paid this painful price.
Obeying the word of the Lord. Do this and live!. But then I also must be in tune what God says. Open my ears Lord that I can hear Your voice speaking. The passage also describes the people who set their hearts on seeking the Lord, following the Levites.
I too need to seek Him each day. I too need to follow His way. I too need to follow the way shown to me by former men of God who were instruments of His peace.
Help me this day to serve You Lord. Help me to walk in Your way following where our fathers have walked in obedience to You. One generation showing the way to the next – choose this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Faith of our fathers, living still,
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whenever we hear that glorious Word!
Refrain
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.
Faith of our fathers, we will strive
To win all nations unto Thee;
And through the truth that comes from God,
We all shall then be truly free.
Refrain
Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife;
And preach Thee, too, as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life.