Read: 1 Kings 11:1-12:19; Acts 9:1-25; Psalm 131:1-3; Proverbs 17:4-5
Solomon married wives from the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites meaning that he made covenants with those spirits. They are fatherlessness, prejudice, cultish, hunters of fish, and terror. They brought with them all their evil practices of worship of idols and turned Solomon’s heart from God. God stirred up three adversaries to Solomon: Hadad the Edomite, Rezon the son of Eliadah, and Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
Hadad means “I shall move softly”. Hadad had escaped Joab when he killed every male in Edom. He was out for revenge. Rezon had fled David’s army and landed in Damascus where he became the ruler of Syria and hated Israel. His name means “to wax lean”. Jeroboam means “the people will contend” and that they did. Jeroboam was appointed by Solomon to rule the house of Joseph because of his gifts and talents. One day, Jeroboam was on his way to Jerusalem when he was stopped by the prophet, Ahijah and given a prophecy. God was going to rend the kingdom from Solomon’s family because of his idol worship and give ten of the tribes to Jeroboam.
Solomon must have heard of the prophecy because he gave orders to kill Jeroboam. He had to flee to Egypt. Meanwhile, Solomon died and gave his kingdom to Rehoboam, his son.
Jeroboam came to Rehoboam’s ordination to advocate for the people. He asked Rehoboam if he would lighten the load for the people who were being forced to hard labor.
Rohoboam took the wrong advice and lost ten tribes in one speech. He was given the choice of ruling kindly or harshly and he chose fear because fear breads fear.
This was the same motivation of Saul in Acts. You fear what you don’t understand so you try to control it. Saul didn’t understand the new wine that Jesus brought so he sought to stop it with force and murder. He just didn’t have eyes to see so God took his natural sight from him so he could see with his spiritual eyes. God opened his spiritual ears and he heard the Lord’s voice.
God saved Saul; changed his name to Saul and sent him to the Gentiles. Saul knew the Jewish law backwards and forwards but God sent him to a totally foreign group of people so he could reprogram him to know truth.
God sometimes does not let us use our natural abilities because then we think we did it. He often calls us out of our comfort zone so we will totally rely on Him.
How ironic that Saul, the hunter that was bound by tradition is now the hunted that is set free.
Lord, help us to walk in the freedom you have given us totally depending on your mercy and grace.
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