2 Chronicles 10

“Then the king answered them roughly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders, and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!” 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.” 2 Chronicles 10:13-15 (NKJV)

Jeroboam was an evil king. He was the one who instituted the worship of two golden calves in Bethel and Dan to keep Israel from worshipping in Jerusalem. His rational? Jeroboam believed that the people’s hearts would turn back to the Lord if they worshipped God as He prescribed, in the place where He caused His Name to dwell. (1 Kings 12:35-33)  When you worship together in the temple Solomon built, it is difficult to hate Solomon’s son (along with your own Judean and Benjamite Jewish cousins). Question: If Jeroboam was so evil, why would the Lord give Jeroboam His word that he would rule Israel? First, let’s look at a portion of the Lord’s declaration to Jeroboam.

“‘But I will take the kingdom out of his [Solomon] son’s [Rehoboam] hand and give it to you—ten tribes. And to his son I will give one tribe, that My servant David may always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for Myself, to put My name there. So I will take you, and you shall reign over all your heart desires, and you shall be king over Israel. Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.  And I will afflict the descendants of David because of this, but not forever.’ Solomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.” 1 Kings 11:35-40 (NKJV)

Because of his righteousness, Jeroboam did not rule the ten tribes of Israel (aka the Northern Kingdom). He ruled because God punished the House of David for its idolatry and the people of Israel for their rebellious hearts. Both sides of the conflict underwent God’s punishment, so neither lived victoriously. Jeroboam could have followed God’s Word; God promised him success if he would. But in the end, Jeroboam chose idolatry, which led Israel into a burden far greater than Rehoboam threatened: Assyrian captivity! Rehoboam’s harsh response to Israel’s request for a lightened burden is in direct opposition to Jesus’ promise.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)