Psalm 127:1a “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it”

This nation was blessed at its founding because the people that were involved sought the direction of God. The earliest settlers came to these shores with the desire to worship God free from persecution. There are those today that would rewrite that history. The names and the dates would stay the same but the motives and desires would be omitted. The prayers that were prayed would be left out. There are those that would take God out of our fine history. As God is taken out His blessing also goes with Him. As God is being removed from our nation today so also is His blessing. People have tried to build without God’s blessing. In the end these efforts fail, like a house built upon the sand. The winds of adversity come, the storms of life come, and the house falls. Only that which is built upon the solid rock will stand. That Rock is Jesus.

A tragic time in the life of the nation Israel came after the reign of King Solomon. In 931 BC Rehoboam, the son of Solomon became King of the Israelites. Under King Solomon the nation enjoyed relative peace. God also granted great prosperity as Solomon followed after the way and will of the Almighty. King Solomon did not stay true to God. He married women from other nations and allowed his many wives to worship their gods. As Solomon strayed, God’s hand of blessing was being removed as a result. In order to keep the standard of living, taxes went up. By the time Solomon had died the burden was heavy upon the people. The decline of the nation had begun.

It was in this environment that Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, was to become king. The name Rehoboam has a meaning. It means “a people has enlarged.” To me this is significant. Rehoboam is at a critical point. He can seek God. He can yield to God’s ways. He can be a man after God’s own heart. If he does, I believe that God who rewards those that diligently seek Him, (Hebrews 11:16) will enlarge the people. If Rehoboam chooses to be God’s man the name that had been given him would rove to be prophetic. Rehoboam sadly did not seek the Lord. He did not seek God’s will. He did not seek God’s way. He took the advice of man rather than seeking the guidance of the Almighty, All Knowing God of the universe. How foolish, how tragic, when we turn from God. The true and living God is not only all powerful but He is also Love. (1 John 4:8) Being Love, we find that God’s motives are pure. He is faithful and true. (Revelation 21:5)

Oh that we would be of sound mind as we face the challenges of life. Oh that we would seek the council of the One with infinite wisdom and understanding (Isaiah 11:1-2) Oh the grief and heartache that would be avoided, if we would but turn to God. He longs to guide us. (1 Peter 2:25) He longs to guide you.

All of Israel gathered to meet with the new king of Israel. They asked of him to lighten their taxation. If he would do this they would follow him. (1 Kings 12:) Rehoboam had it in his hands to strengthen all of Israel. He chose to speak harshly to the people and promised to increase their burden. (1 Kings 12:11) Because of the foolishness of Rehoboam the nation of Israel was divided. Then of the twelve tribes of Israel separated themselves from the rule of Rehoboam. These ten tribes became known as the northern tribes and retained the name Israel. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained under Rehoboam and are often referred to as Judah. The northern tribes chose a man to be their king. His name was Jeroboam. This name, Jeroboam means “the people will contend.” Jeroboam did indeed lead the northern tribes to contend. They were contentious with the southern tribes and they were contentious with God. Jeroboam led the northern kingdom into idolatry. This idolatry would be on e of the sins that would bring destruction and finally captivity. Again it is so sad because God had reached out to Jeroboam. (1 Kings 11:38) “And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.”

Wow! What a word to receive from God! What a promise from the Almighty! Jeroboam however turned from that offer. He chose another path.

Placing our lives in the hands of God can be a scary thing. There can be feelings of uncertainty. Questions arise when we are asked to step out in faith.

Noah had a number of obstacles to overcome as he obeyed God’s command to build an ark. He had to put up with the chiding of those that would not yield to God.

Consider the mother of Moses and the emotions she must have felt as she put her tiny baby into a small ark and placed it into the river, (Exodus 2:3) watching as the small craft with its precious cargo floated away. What joy she must have experienced as the daughter of Pharaoh opened it and had compassion on the child.

Consider also that wayward prophet. He was thrown into the sea. (Jonah 1:15) The sailors that cast him into the raging water knew it was to a certain death. As Jonah was given to the sea it stopped its raging. The scripture tells us that he was swallowed up by a great fish.

Can you imagine the fear that would grip a person as they realize that they are being swallowed up by a great fish? Without this fish Jonah would have perished. Without the ark, despite the anxiety it may have caused the child, Moses would have been killed by the decree of Pharaoh. By the provision of God Moses became as a son in Pharaoh’s household. Despite the humiliation that Noah experienced, the ark that he was building became a vessel of salvation!

God has chosen to reach out to mankind through His Son Jesus Christ.

The cross of Jesus Christ is foolishness to man. “For the reaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it s the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

God is reaching out to you today. Jesus, the Son is desiring to be your Savior. The Holy Spirit of god is desiring to lead, guide and direct. Put the fear aside and any thing else that would keep you from Him. Receive Him right now by faith. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” (John 1:12)

This story was taken from a Sunday morning message at the Open Bible Church July 2004, the same weekend that Lou and I felt the Lord saying to take The Well Ministries full-time. I asked Pastor Bob if I could share his message in The Well so he rewrote it for publication.