Series: Youth for Jesus
Number: Vol. 8, No. 29
“Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah to be the chief prince among his brothers, in order to make him king. He acted wisely, dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and took many wives for them.” (2Chron 11:22-23NIV)
Who acted wisely, as we see in our opening bible text? It was Rehoboam, the son of Solomon that succeeded him as king over the nation of Israel. And how did he act wisely? It was by seeing to it that he himself solved what could have become a problem for the nation after his death.
Now what was that thing that could have become a problem for the nation of Judah after the death of Rehoboam? It was kingship! Yes, who would become king after his death would have become a terrible problem for the nation, if he had not dealt with the situation when he still had the time, authority, power and resources to do so.Remember that, even in the time of David, who would become king after him created a big mess for the country.
First, we had Absalom, who was not even the first son or second son of David, putting himself forward to be king and starting a civil war that claimed the lives of many. Also, we had Adonijah, another son of his, putting himself forward as king, even though he did not have the wisdom or character required to be one. And if Prophet Nathan and Bathsheba had not stepped in on time to make David announce and anoint Solomon, the right man, as king after him, while he was still alive, only God knows how many lives would have been lost in the fight for his throne. (Cf. 2Sam 15; 1Kings 1)
But Rehoboam would not give room for any such thing during his own reign. So, while the kingdom was still firmly established in his hand, he proclaimed Abijah to be the crown prince. And in order to prevent his other sons, twenty-seven of them, from making trouble for Abijah, he scattered them throughout the country and kept them happy with abundant resources and many wives.
So, while he was still alive, he solved the kingship problem and ensured that the land could continue to enjoy peace after his death.Interestingly, Abraham had also done a similar thing in dealing with his sons. The bible says, “Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.” (Gen 25:5-6 NIV)
Did you see that? While he was still alive, strong, powerful and wealthy, Abraham solved the problem of who would inherit what from his possessions. He did not leave the situation to chance, fate or luck. Otherwise, some greedy and cruel child may just ruin the name and legacy of the family in his fight for the man’s inheritance.
Remember Gideon. Even though he did well by refusing to take God’s position as king over the people of Israel, he did not do well by not seeking God’s face to know and appoint a true judge that would take over from him in leading the people. Therefore, he gave room for the ruthless son of his concubine, Abimelech, to destroy all his other seventy sons and forcefully take over the leadership of the country. (Cf. Judges 8-9)
To say the fact, most of the judges God gave to Israel did not labour as Moses did to know His mind about who would take over from them and then hand over to such persons while they were still alive. So, the people often ended up as sheep without shepherds after their demise, having nobody to lead them in doing the will of God and being exposed to harm from all kinds of wicked and ruthless people and nations that may want to rule over them. (Cf. Num 27:15-23)
In any case, the point of all I have been sharing with you is that there are problems that only you are in a position to solve. And you should not ignore or avoid them, whether because you are afraid, indecisive or sentimental.
Instead, you should identify such problems and clearly solve them when you still have the means to do so. Otherwise, apart from the fact that you may give room for some foolish, irresponsible and godless individuals to ruin your good legacy, you can also expose your family, business, community, society or church to unnecessary and avoidable evil through your unwillingness to solve a problem that is in your power to solve.Therefore, mind yourself.