Today's Scripture Reading (December 28, 2022): 2 Chronicles 12
During the early days of
World War II, several governments existed in exile, often setting up their governments
in far-flung places such as Australia, London, or even Washington, D.C. Their
lands might have been occupied, but these governments never gave up hope that
they would regain control of their homelands. 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 less-remembered governments
in exile was that of the Belgian government. King Leopold III tried to keep Belgium
neutral in the war, but that 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. The government fled Belgium to set up a government in exile in
Bordeaux in the South Western part of France. And when France fell, the Belgian
government moved to London. As for King Leopold III, he 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. And when he finally
returned to Belgium in 1950, his presence almost caused 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 to explore how he could become the 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 stay in Egypt
for the rest of Solomon's life, only daring to return to Israel after the death
of King Solomon. 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 that would support him when the time came to fight in
Israel.
In the fifth year of the
reign of Rehoboam, Shishak attacked from the south, and with him he brought
other friends that 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, but we do know that Rehoboam had been
successfully isolated, and this was a war that Judah's King wasn't going to
win. Rehoboam seemed to understand well what was happening, and he reinforced
the cities on the southern and western borders of the nation. Still, the Book
of Kings argues that because of Rehoboam's unfaithfulness, that action was not
enough to save the country.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 14
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