PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: 2 Chronicles 11-12
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you.” (2 Chronicles 12:5)
If we walk away from God, we will miss out on life with God (he will still love us).
As with the prodigal son, the Father lets us take the inheritance and run.
He does this to teach us what life is like without him (2 Chronicles 12:8).
God is not being mean, he is giving us what we prefer.
He loves us too much to force us to do what we do not want to do.
We are free agents, not forced puppets, and this freedom is risky.
Our world is the mess that it is because God has given us the freedom to choose.
When we reach for God, and seek to honour and serve him, he will help us.
But when we let go of God, he lets us experience life that way, to smarten us up.
How much do I seek to keep the Lord a part of my everyday life?
If I don’t seek him when I don’t need him, am I surprised he’s distant when I do?
Thankfully, we see with Rehoboam that there’s always a chance to repent.
The Lord loves me and wants fellowship with me, but he will not force it on me.
He will abandon me to my preferred isolation, but only to bring me to my senses.
PRAYER
Lord, I confess that I go into my day without seeking you, and sometimes live my life as if you were not there. Help me to learn my lesson from the less-than satisfying results.
“Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah.” I see God’s immense patience and grace here. Rehoboam really didn’t deserve God’s grace – when boxed in He finally humbled himself – I can imagine the proud guards losing their gold shields and now everyday carry their bronze replacements – how a proud people gets humbled. I’ve had times where my pride needed to be clipped! God was gracious to me – humbled me and taught me. Now I fear more myself – that I get in the way. I seek God’s council – the guidance and blessing of the HS to carry out the work that I do. Help keep myself out of the way – to let go and let God!
Like Adam, we all have choice. I need to choose to listen to the Word of the Lord. To those who repent, the Lord answers and brings them under the shadow of His wings. By the leading of His Spirit, today God needs to be first in the choice I make. I need to serve Him by what I say and do. I need to seek His presence always and obey His ways for me. He is my pilot.
Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Over life’s tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treacherous shoal.
Chart and compass come from Thee;
Savior, pilot me.
Though the sea be smooth and bright,
Sparkling with the stars of night,
And my ship’s path be ablaze
With the light of halcyon days,
Still I know my need of Thee;
Savior, pilot me.
When at last I near the shore,
And the fearful breakers roar
’Twixt me and the peaceful rest,
Then, while leaning on Thy breast,
May I hear you say to me,
I will pilot thee