daily bible readings

War was imminent. Jeroboam and his followers abandoned Israel and vowed to reject the king. Rehoboam had the support of the southern towns and regions, Judea and Benjamin. After the death of Adoniram, Rehoboam barely escaped with his life back to Jerusalem. He mustered troops, 180,000 fighting men from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. He planned to attack the rebellious norther tribes of Israel to make them subservient once again to the one true king.

The parallel passage in 1 Kings 12 tells us that Israel, the Northern tribes, made Jeroboam king over all Israel. The Northern Tribes were unhappy with the answer given by Rehoboam earlier in the chapter and refused to submit to him. War seemed inevitable.

But God intervened. God called His prophet, Shemaiah, to speak to the people of the Southern tribes. God told Rehoboam, “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin, 4 ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’ ” So they obeyed the words of the Lord and turned back from marching against Jeroboam.” 2 Chronicles 11:3–4

Earlier the cry “to your tents” (10:16) was a cry for rebellion. Now the cry, “go home, everyone of you” was a call to end the potential war. God had intervened and stopped Israel the nation from annihilating each other. God revealed that the division was from himself (for this is my doing, v4).

Throughout the Scriptures we see that God reveals Himself at just the right time to achieve His purposes. In Hebrews 1:1–2 God speaks of His greatest and final revelation. “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.” God’s revelation in His son is the final and greatest revelation.

The revelation of God through Shemaiah the prophet stopped a potential war between the Northern and Southern tribes. But, war and hostility would continue for hundreds of years. Both the Northern and Southern Tribes would soon be exiled because of their sinfulness and rejection of God’s Word and God’s ways. Israel, the norther tribes ceased to exist when they were invaded and exiled by the Assyrians. The Southern tribes were exiled by Babylon. But in the course of history, the Southern tribes returned to Jerusalem while the Northern tribes were not.

Only through the coming of Jesus could there be total peace. While Ephesians 2:13-18 refers in the first instance to Jews and Gentiles, it does pick up on the peace brought between all peoples and the Jews through Christ. The Samaritans, the descendants of those exiled by the Assyrians, come to full and final peace through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:13–18 (NIV84)

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

For us, who are not Jews, we see that God reveals Himself at set times and places to achieve His purposes. The greatest revelation comes in Jesu s Christ and brings the greatest peace possible - peace with God.

Prayer: 

Adoration:

• Adore God that He is a God of peace and mercy, preferring mercy to sacrifice.
• Adore God that He has revealed Himself most fully in Jesus Christ so that you can have peace with God.

Confession:

• Take time to confess your sins to the Lord and to ask for His forgiveness.

Thanks:

• Thank God that we have been justified through faith and therefore we have peace with God.
• Thank God that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Supplication:

• Pray that those who need the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding to guard their hearts and minds in Christ will be given God’s peace in abundance.
• Pray that God will bring more and more people in to the kingdom as you proclaim the word of life and share the revelation of the Son as given in the Word.

Discussion Questions

1. Why did God reveal Himself to the southern tribes and not the norther tribes?
2. How do you explain 2 Chronicles 4— (this is my doing) in terms of God’s sovereignty and human involvement?