Today's Scripture Reading (February 13, 2026): 1 Kings 14
During the early days of
World War II, several governments existed in exile, often setting up their administrations
in far-flung places such as Australia, London, or even Washington, D.C. Their
homelands might have been occupied, but these governments never gave up hope of
regaining control of their native countries. Free France, headquartered in
London, might be one of the best-known of these nations, but Free France was
only the tip of the Iceberg.
One of the least
remembered governments in exile was that of Belgium. King Leopold III tried to
keep Belgium neutral during the war, but it proved futile. Germany invaded
Belgium in May of 1940, and King Leopold, believing that his country did not
have the strength to resist, opened up the gates of the nation to the Germans,
surrendering the nation to their control. It was a move that earned him hostility
from the Belgian people, while the government was forced to flee Belgium and
set up a government-in-exile in Bordeaux, in the Southwestern part of France.
And when France fell, the Belgian government moved to London. As for King
Leopold III, the monarch stayed in Belgium as a guest of the Germans. After the
war, Leopold was an unwelcome presence in the nation he once ruled and was seen
as a Nazi sympathizer. Leopold fled Belgium, and when he finally returned in
1950, his presence almost sparked a civil war.
Jeroboam was an official
in King Solomon's government responsible for managing the Northern workforce in
many of Solomon's building projects. And in this position, he was a first-hand
witness to the discontent of the Northern tribes that marked Solomon's time on
the throne. Jeroboam began exploring how he could become King of the Northern
Kingdom of Israel. It didn't take long for Solomon to become aware of a
possible rebellion brewing within his ranks and Jeroboam's connection with the
rebels. And so, Jeroboam ran to Egypt and enjoyed the hospitality of Shishak,
the King of Egypt, usually identified as the Pharaoh Shoshenq.
Jeroboam would remain in
Egypt for the rest of Solomon's life, only daring to return to Israel after
Solomon's death. He had no appetite to take on Solomon in a civil war. But his
son, Rehoboam, was a different matter. Now the nation was ripe for a civil war.
While in Egypt, Jeroboam essentially set up a government in exile. He made
friends and allies who would support him when the time came to fight back home.
At first, a civil war
between Israel and Judah was avoided. However, in the fifth year of the reign
of Rehoboam, Shishak attacked from the south, bringing with him other friends
whom Jeroboam had made during his period of exile. We really don't know whether
they were attacking because of the relationship that Jeroboam had built with
them during his time of exile, or just picking on a nation at a moment of
weakness. What we do know is that Rehoboam had been successfully isolated, and
this was a war that Judah's King wasn't going to win. Rehoboam seemed to
understand what was happening, and he reinforced the cities on the nation's
southern and western borders in anticipation of an attack from Egypt. Still,
the Book of Chronicles argues that because of Rehoboam's unfaithfulness, that
action was not enough to save the nation.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 15
See Also 2 Chronicles 12:2
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