What Was He Thinking?

What if your medulla oblongata divorced your spinal cord? Who gets custody of your cerebellum? A similar medical emergency happened to Solomon’s son right after he assumed the throne from his father. Rehoboham was thought to be a suitable replacement to be King of Israel until he asked the advice of his counselors. Like every new ruler, he desperately wanted to be admired and respected.

First day on the job, Rehoboam asked his trusted advisors what he should do to win the people’s confidence and get a firm grip on the nation. He was fortunate; two groups of advisors gave him advice. Jeroboham and his friends advised Rehoboam to lighten the yoke his father had put on the people. He asked the elders who served his father and they “being wise” advised him to treat the people kindly and they will serve him loyally. Everything seemed to indicate Rehoboam would follow their advice. Then things took a deadly sharp turn. He asked the young men he grew up with and they gave him another answer. “Tell the people who have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter’—tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’” 2 Chronicles 10:10-11 Let us all be reminded, one can stroke people with words—or not.

How do you think the people reacted to that? Just to get a hint of things to come, when King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor in Judah, the people there stoned him to death! The frightened King Rehoboam got on his chariot and escaped to Jerusalem. He ruled for 17 precarious years. The kingdom of Solomon took a plunge from its pinnacle of glory. Ten of the twelve tribes seceded from his kingdom. The King of Egypt plundered Jerusalem, and the kingdom split. What was he thinking? Following bad advice can cause disaster. Rehoboam had the chance to rule peacefully and unite the kingdom but he lost that chance.

Bottom line

It is easy to follow the advice of your peers because they often feel as we do. But their view may be limited and skewed. It is important to listen carefully to those who have more experience than we do—they can see the bigger picture. Ask God for wisdom.