00:00:00: Hello, everyone.

00:00:01: Welcome to the Lifther Jesus podcast with Courtney Gilmore.

00:00:04: on this episode God keeps his promises and fulfills His prophecies.

00:00:10: This is first Kings twelve And second Chronicles eleven.

00:00:21: when I hear that god keeps his promise's and fulfils his prophecies i'm like Great!

00:00:27: I'm so glad.

00:00:28: That means God is faithful and that he is powerful, And so...that makes me really excited Until i start thinking about how does all of that actually play out?

00:00:40: If god has prophesied something's going to happen years before it ever happens Before some people come onto the scene then How did this work like How do the people have free will if God has already decided that this is the way it's going to go?

00:01:01: It's kind of confusing and honestly a little disconcerting.

00:01:05: so like all of the things That I was really excited about before now.

00:01:09: Um, A little confused about And that's kinda how felt whenever i read This lesson initially, and that's the reason I thought maybe we should talk about that because you will read it.

00:01:22: You'll feel the same

00:01:23: way.".

00:01:24: That is going to be a focus of our lesson.

00:01:26: but before we get started this is when The Kingdom Of Israel gets divided.

00:01:33: so Before we start talking how that happened i want to remind what happened with King Solomon before we went on to Ecclesiastes.

00:01:44: obviously, since we've been studying Ecclesiastes and we ended with the life of Solomon who was the third king of Israel.

00:01:53: So he had Saul then David and then David's son Solomon...and now Solomon has passed away!

00:01:59: And that is where were going to pick our story up today.

00:02:02: but if you will remember God promised David that He would always have someone on the throne Walk before me with integrity of heart and uprightness, And obey my commands.

00:02:20: Then your family will never fail to have a man on the throne of

00:02:23: Israel.".

00:02:24: He extended this exact same promise to Solomon but he added that If his descendants failed to keep His commandments and instead turned away, then God would cut them off from the land of Israel.

00:02:43: The other commands that God gave well before Solomon ever became the king is when the Israelites got into the land of Israel, they were not supposed to enter Mary with people who lived there.

00:03:02: They also weren't supposed to intermarry with surrounding nations who worshiped others gods.

00:03:07: because he said if you marry these peoples and worship them then their going draw your heart away from me And... So that was the first command or two commands, I guess.

00:03:22: Don't marry the people live there and don't marry The People outside of the nation of Israel That worship other gods.

00:03:29: but he also gave a Command specifically to the kings And says don't multiply wives to yourselves Because then you will think that You are powerful Or your political alliances Are all about you and All Of That.

00:03:45: Solomon broke three these commands.

00:03:48: It tells us that he had seven hundred wives and three-hundred concubines, so obviously multiplied wives to himself .

00:03:55: And some of the women were from foreign countries ,and also from the land of Israel but they are from foreign nations who lived in there.

00:04:09: Because Solomon eventually broke the commands that God gave to him and did worship other gods because exactly what God told him would happen, happened.

00:04:21: God came to Him towards the end of His life and He said because of this I'm gonna take some of The Kingdom away from you.

00:04:30: now he doesn't Take the entire kingdom away from Solomon or his descendants Because...he promised David that he Would never do That!

00:04:39: He Told David..He Said if your son Doesn't follow me i will discipline him but i Will not take my mercy Away From him like i did Saul.

00:04:47: And the way that God took his mercy from Saul is by taking The Kingdom totally From him and His family.

00:04:53: So, God had already promised David he would not do That.

00:04:57: so He doesn't take The kingdom fully away and also Doesn't Take the kingdom Away.

00:05:02: form Solomon himself because of David Because god loved david made Him some promises I'm going to take the kingdom away from your son but Not all of it that I made to your father.

00:05:17: And so he said, what i'm going to do is when you pass away instead of giving the kingdom to your son...I am gonna take ten of the tribes away from your son and I'm only going to leave him.

00:05:29: the tribe of Judah ...and the city of Jerusalem which included The Tribe of Benjamin because the border of uh Benjamin and Judah ran through Jerusalem!

00:05:44: God told Solomon that in the last chapter we read before he went to Ecclesiastes, and He also said that he wanted to rule a new kingdom.

00:05:59: so he sent this prophet to Jeroboam and He said, um...he had this cloak.

00:06:05: And he tore it into twelve pieces to symbolize the Twelve Tribes..and he said you take ten of these!

00:06:13: That is going to symbolized that your'e gonna get ten of the Kingdoms or ten of The tribes of Israel at some point in.

00:06:22: You're Going To Rule Them.

00:06:23: Well, Solomon got word that Ahesia had told Jeroboam this and he tried to kill Jerobalm.

00:06:30: Even though God has already told Solomon I'm going take ten of the kingdoms away give them one of your

00:06:37: servants.".

00:06:38: And Jerobolm was his servant in charge of the labor at Joseph's house.

00:06:45: so he'd already said he would do it.

00:06:48: but apparently Solomon somehow thought plan by killing Jeroboam.

00:06:54: and it's like no that's not going to happen.

00:06:57: And so Jerobon fled to the land of Egypt, he stayed there until Solomon

00:07:02: died.".

00:07:03: That is where we left off before.

00:07:05: Solomon has passed away.

00:07:06: now when we start chapter twelve of First Kings we find out that Solomon had passed away.

00:07:16: his son Rehoboem will take the throne.

00:07:22: If we go to First Kings fourteen, it tells us that Rehoboam was forty-one years old when his father died and he took control of the throne.

00:07:32: That means He would have been born at the very end of David's life!

00:07:38: And if you remember At the End Of David's Life, He Was Ruling In Conjunction With Solomon.

00:07:46: And apparently, you know maybe Solomon did the same thing with Rehoboam.

00:07:51: because Rehom just automatically assumes that he will get the throne after his father David.

00:07:57: and thats kind of where it starts out.

00:07:59: It says that Rehuboam went to Shechem Because all Israel had come to shechem To make him king.

00:08:06: So He assumed that he would be King.

00:08:08: But instead of staying in Jerusalem where the king's palace was and being crowned there, he went to Shechem.

00:08:17: And Shechem is a very important city because this is first place that God ever spoke to Abraham.

00:08:24: If you remember, God called Abraham away from his home and said go to a land that I will show You.

00:08:31: And when he got to Shechem, God said this is the Land!

00:08:36: That's the first place that God spoke to him there... It's also where Jacob bought land.

00:08:41: is the only time that anyone has bought land to live in.

00:08:45: Abraham bought land for a to bury their dead button but jacob just buy and tell him.

00:08:52: And then it's all so.

00:08:53: wear Joseph bones were buried, And also where Joshua buried all of the idols and said, as for me in my house we will serve the Lord.

00:09:11: Now it is a Levitical city of refuge so its very important place.

00:09:16: but It's not where the king's palace is, and so it seems a little bit odd that he would go to Shechem thirty miles north of where he lives—where he's going to be living just to be crowned King.

00:09:30: But I think the reason that he did this is because there has always been a little bit of discrepancy between The Southern Kingdom Of Judah and Northern Ten Tribes, Because David Is From The Tribe Of Judah Meaning That So With Solomon And Rea Bohem the northern tribes had always kind of thought, well you care more about Judah because they're your family.

00:09:55: You know?

00:09:56: And so I think he was traveling north to show...I'm not just a king of Judah!

00:10:02: I am the King all Israel.

00:10:04: and So He travels there.

00:10:06: that's the first sentence.

00:10:07: it tells us that he travels their to Shechem To be crowned The King.

00:10:12: Well, then it tells us that Jeroboam has heard about the fact that Solomon is dead and Rehoboem as being crowned king.

00:10:19: And he goes there with the rest of the Israelites to meet with Rehuboam but instead automatically crowning him the King, Jerobom along all people behind Him go to Rehubaum.

00:10:34: they say to him your father made our yoke heavy.

00:10:38: Now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us.

00:10:45: And we will serve

00:10:46: you.".

00:10:47: So if you remember Solomon has built a ton things in the land by this time.

00:10:55: He built the temple but also built His own palace for His wife and built the city up and fortified cities all over Israel.

00:11:07: He used some slave labor from the other nations, but he also used compulsory labor of The Israelites and so they weren't slaves in the sense that um.

00:11:20: He captured them and forced them to work necessarily But this was their job And they had to do.

00:11:27: you know your?

00:11:28: Your boss is not your a slave master But you still have to do what your boss says.

00:11:34: if you don't then You lose your jobs.

00:11:37: And so he used these people, the Israelites to do this labor for him and He was a slave master in the fact of like.

00:11:47: if you would say your boss is a slave driver You know?

00:11:50: He makes you work long hours.

00:11:51: Then it gives you A lot of stuff to Do when you have all These things to do before you can leave Work and that's what they're saying That Solomon had done them.

00:11:59: They're Like we built All of these places For Him but he Was like really harsh like he gave us a Lot Of work To do.

00:12:07: If you will not be as harsh he was, we'll serve you gladly.

00:12:11: But would like to know that your going to lighten our load a little bit before we just commit to serving him.

00:12:17: and so again I say they're not slaves because have the right to say no but want them easier on us saying we will voluntarily serve if you will just lighten out.

00:12:35: And this is not what Rayobom was expecting, right?

00:12:38: He thought he would just go there and they were going to say you're our new king.

00:12:42: You know we'll serve you and do whatever you

00:12:45: ask."

00:12:46: So I don't really want to say it like that but can you give me a few

00:12:50: days?".

00:12:51: They said yes!

00:12:52: Then they went away with the elders who had lived when his father was King saying what should be done for them.

00:13:02: And interestingly enough, they use the word serve for him.

00:13:08: They say if you will be a servant to the people and serve them and answer them and speak good words to them then they'll your servants forever!

00:13:19: So there using... If remember back few lessons ago we talked about being a Servant Leader And we call our civil servants, civil servants for that exact purpose because they're supposed to be serving us.

00:13:34: They are suppose to be our representatives doing what is best for you know governing in a way beneficial and not beneficial.

00:13:48: And so he says, if you won't exert your power over them and do what is best for you but instead.

00:13:54: You will show them that you're doing What's in their?

00:13:56: Best interest then they'll serve you.

00:14:00: So if you will be a servant leader to them Then they were willingly serve you and He doesn't listen to them.

00:14:09: Instead he goes to the people of his generation.

00:14:13: any ask them why do think I should do?

00:14:16: Well, if you think about it those people that are his age they've only been under the rule of Solomon.

00:14:23: They weren't around whenever David was ruling like the elders were and realized that Solomon had let this get a little bit out-of hand right?

00:14:32: These Elders...they realize that because David didn't do what Solomon did And they have been around at different time.

00:14:39: so some of these Israelites who're coming to him saying lighten our load They'd been around whenever David was, you know gave them a light load.

00:14:50: and so they were asking for something that they knew was You Know actually a good thing.

00:14:58: But the young people, they didn't know that even though you know there not all that young.

00:15:04: They had never been around under any kind of leader other than Solomon.

00:15:09: and so like.

00:15:09: I don't what these people are grabbing about.

00:15:11: we've got a beautiful city or whatever.

00:15:15: it's their job.

00:15:16: So I think in order to, you know, exert your authority or whatever make sure that people aren't gonna walk on you as soon as you become the king.

00:15:25: You need to do the opposite of what The Elders said...you need to double down.

00:15:31: and so they say we think you should say them my little finger shall be thicker than My Father's waist.

00:15:37: where My father put a heavy yoke On you.

00:15:40: i will add two Your Yoke.

00:15:42: My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges.

00:15:47: And so he's saying where you thought my fathers hand was heavy?

00:15:53: Where you though that the burden was thick?

00:15:56: Mine is going to be way thicker.

00:15:58: like less of his The less of mine is going to be the most of his, as way saying when he says my little finger will be thicker than his waist.

00:16:07: And then He says you know I'm going to add two your burden and i'm gonna give you Way more work Than You ever had with My father.

00:16:14: and you're Gonna Be wishing for what?

00:16:16: You were you Know told To do by My Father.

00:16:19: and Then He Says Whenever i chastise him i have Chastised you With whips i'll Chastise you with Scorges again.

00:16:26: It sounds like he was making Them slaves but it Specifically Says that no Israelite was a slave.

00:16:33: and so this is just like today.

00:16:36: if you disobey your boss or, y'know...you are not good at the job.

00:16:41: Or lazy..or whatever.

00:16:43: You might get ridden up Y'know?

00:16:45: And after certain number of times you're going to be fired or whatever!

00:16:48: You don't get the

00:16:49: pay!!

00:16:50: You

00:16:50: know??

00:16:50: You got docked by your pay stuff like that.

00:16:53: Corporal punishment was just automatic, not for kids but adults too.

00:16:57: If you did something wrong then you got punished physically.

00:17:01: and so David what he's saying is Solomon may have whipped you.

00:17:06: I'm going to score you a harsher punishment.

00:17:10: And...he listened.

00:17:13: He listened to the generation, his friends instead of listening to the wise elders.

00:17:21: And so when people came back him in three days he said that exact thing his friend told them.

00:17:27: and they did not respond.

00:17:29: well because they weren't slaves or didn t have to do what he said.

00:17:33: They wanted to willingly serve him but were not willing if it was a master leader that he was going to be.

00:17:44: And so, they said exactly what Sheba said years ago to David whenever he felt like David was taking care of the tribe of Judah more than He was taken care of northern tribes.

00:17:58: They said What share do we have in David?

00:18:01: We have no inheritance and a son of Jesse To your tents.

00:18:05: oh Israel now see you own house David!

00:18:09: So their saying Yeah, you don't care about us.

00:18:12: You Don't Care About Us like you care about your own tribe Your Own Family of Judah.

00:18:19: if you did then you wouldn't treat us Like this and so we're gonna go to our houses And you can take care Of your own house?

00:18:25: Your own House of David.

00:18:28: and So they went away and Left Rehoboam To rule only over the land of Judah.

00:18:38: And it says in verse fifteen, he did not listen to the people for the turn of events was from the Lord that He might fulfill His word which the Lord had spoken to Aesha about Jeroboam.

00:18:56: Rehoboam doesn't know this, he does not.

00:18:58: that was God's will.

00:19:00: That is the turn of events because this what God wanted to happen and He wants kingdom divided.

00:19:08: so he sends his chief laborer to go enforce this rule says no I said it you're going.

00:19:17: do what he say and send him.

00:19:20: they kill them.

00:19:21: They're like, no we are actually not.

00:19:25: And so after they kill the guy that he sends to go and enforce this... He goes back to Jerusalem!

00:19:36: When he gets back to Jerusalem, it says that He gathers a hundred and eighty thousand warriors from the tribe of Judah.

00:19:42: And From The Tribe Of Benjamin.

00:19:44: remember I said That He Gets Jerusalem and Benjamin is part of Jerusalem?

00:19:49: So that kind of connects those two tribes.

00:19:52: so they fall in even though you know not all of Benjamin Is In One Town but They Are Included In The Southern Kingdom Because That Connects Them To tribe of Judah.

00:20:06: And so Rehoboam decides that he's going to get these warriors and then they're gonna go up north, God comes to a wise godly man named Shamiah, which we learn later is a man who wrote about Rehoboam's reign.

00:20:46: So he was an important person in the kingdom and it says that God went to him And He said you need tell Rehuboam and the rest of Judah That they do not go up against their brothers The children Israel and that instead they need to go back their houses.

00:21:05: because this thing is from me.

00:21:08: And unlike the first time, whenever he got wise words from just the wise elders and didn't listen.

00:21:16: When he got this word from Shemaya that was...that Shemayah said is From God.

00:21:22: He listened!

00:21:24: They decided okay fine I guess That This Is From God and i'm going to let The Kingdom split.

00:21:31: they can have their own king and I will rule only over Judah & Benjamin Now.

00:21:39: He also was going to rule over the tribe of Simeon, because if you remember all the way back whenever Joshua allotted the land to Israelites.

00:21:52: The tribe of Simion contained within Judah and so like Judah got the whole south.

00:22:00: then Simeons right in center it surrounded by Judah eventually swallowed up Judah.

00:22:09: And so it's everybody that lives in the land of Judah and Jerusalem, and pulls Benjamin down into the South!

00:22:18: So he rules all of that...and then tells us that people select Jeroboam to rule over them.... He would make sense, because they think he understands us.

00:22:31: Because he was in charge of Solomon's labor and so he knows why.

00:22:36: we're you know complaining And so he will be a good leader.

00:22:39: So they selected him as the Leader Of The North.

00:22:42: We'll talk about his leadership next week But were going to go on in Second Chronicles XI.

00:22:51: It is also telling this same story in chapter ten and chapter eleven of Second Chronicles, but it goes on in eleven five to tell us a little bit details about about Rehoboam's reign that we don't hear in the Kings.

00:23:11: If you remember, The Chronicles are not normally quite as personal.

00:23:16: they're a little bit more about...you know They're chronicling what all happened and so they're gonna tell You Know About building of cities And things like That whereas you know The kings might add details Like Personal Details about their Family or sin Or something like that.

00:23:36: it doesn't pertain to the whole kingdom.

00:23:38: And then, The Chronicles will talk a little bit more about the Kingdom.

00:23:40: and so it goes on in Second Chronicles eleven five...to tell us that Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem And he built four cities around Jerusalem to fortify as a defense, two Jerusalem.

00:23:58: Two the king's land.

00:24:00: one of those cities was Bethlehem and then three more cities that I'm not going to pronounce all these cities.

00:24:06: if y'all want to know them you can go back and read him but Bethlehems is the only one that i recognize...and then three other cities ...and they surrounded Jerusalem and they were at offense.

00:24:16: he fortified six other cities on the west to protect them from the Philistines and Egyptians who were there.

00:24:30: And then he also built five more cities that would secure the outer perimeters of the military and trade routes.

00:24:41: Then it says, He strengthened these cities made fortresses there put officers there had plenty stores food oil wine there.

00:24:51: Also fortified all city by giving them people their shields and spears.

00:24:56: so if anybody came to attack land they were prepared, basically.

00:25:02: And then it also tells us in this passage that he had many wives but only a few of them are specifically mentioned.

00:25:10: and so the first one that they highlight is One Of David's Granddaughters That He Marries.

00:25:17: The second one that he...that they highlight belongs to his great-uncle Eliab That is David's oldest brother, so this his daughter that he marries.

00:25:29: and it says she gave him three sons.

00:25:32: And then the last one they mentioned was his uncle Absalom's granddaughter.

00:25:39: She gave them four sons Then continued to marry other women accumulating eighteen wives and sixty concubines over course of his reign.

00:25:53: twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

00:25:58: But it says that he loved Absalom's granddaughter the very most, so her oldest son is one who made leader over all of his other sons because he intended for him to be his successor but seems like other than the initial.

00:26:16: not listening to the elders.

00:26:18: he was a pretty good king in the beginning.

00:26:22: He fortified all these cities and he also took his sons, put them into this city strategically you know placing so that they could take care of those places gave them plenty to live on and sought wives for them.

00:26:39: And so that is how, the lesson ends!

00:26:45: Now I want us go back talk about how God fulfilled his prophecy because it was a prophecy he gave Solomon saying the kingdom will be taken from your son The kingdom of Israel will be divided into two kingdoms, the northern Kingdom being named Israel because it's the largest and the southern kingdom...the largest number of tribes.

00:27:13: It is not necessarily the largest plot of land but its the largest number people.

00:27:19: And then the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

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00:28:23: God had already decided this was going to happen and it says that twice in this passage.

00:28:31: And so the first time is in First Kings twelve fifteen when it says, That he might fulfill his word And then in first Kings twelve twenty-four when he says you shall not go down and fight against your brothers let every man return to his house because this thing is from the Lord.

00:29:01: Rehoboam did not listen to the elders or to the people in the first place and instead listened to his friends, is not necessarily because he favored his friend's argument over the elders.

00:29:15: Or He didn't want to do what the elder said...or you know they were that younger People are more persuasive..he wanted to exert His power and make them respect him....or Because thought, some of those things may have come into play.

00:29:34: That might've been his thought process but it tells us here that the ultimate reason he did not listen to them was because God didn't want him too...because God wanted The Kingdom To Be Divided.

00:29:47: and so what does this mean?

00:29:51: How Did God Do All Of This?

00:29:59: I'm glad that God keeps his promises and fulfills His prophecies.

00:30:02: It lets me know.

00:30:03: the god is faithful to do what he says He's going to do, And then he has the power To Do it!

00:30:09: And i'm glad of That because why would I pray to this god if he doesn't have Power?

00:30:13: To do any Of The things i'm asking him to do right...and If he Is not Faithful to keep the Promises that he gives to Me Then what use, right?

00:30:22: And so I'm very glad about this.

00:30:25: I have a powerful God that loves me and is able to keep his promises to me...and he's faithful to do that!

00:30:32: But then whenever i see this ...and I realize that God had determined all of these before Rehoboam ever became king.

00:30:41: it has nothing with him....it had nothing to do with Jeroboem.....And This Is Just God's Plan.

00:30:47: All Along.

00:30:49: and that yet they were just used to fulfill his plan, then what does that mean?

00:30:56: Does that means God made Rehoboam not listen to the elders who obviously had a wiser plan?

00:31:05: or it doesn't just mean he was inclined to you know...listened to people of this age.

00:31:12: Or their argument did make sense for him so God just used them?

00:31:18: Maybe they, like I said that wasn't the reason because God wanted it but maybe he was already inclined to do so.

00:31:30: It played his reasoning.

00:31:36: and then also what if Rehoboam would have done with people asked?

00:31:42: Then how will god fulfill this

00:31:43: plan?".

00:31:44: You know, or was that even an option?

00:31:45: Was God going to allow him... To listen to the people.

00:31:52: Or is it never an option for Him to do this in the first place because we know that it's God's plan of being divided.

00:32:00: And also when God said you know accept that This Is My Will and don't try to force your will what would have happened if He did?

00:32:07: What Would Have Happened If Rehoboam Would've Said Shema, I don't care what you have to say.

00:32:18: If God did allow that then how would He again made this kingdom be divided?

00:32:27: How the war had turned out or somehow supernaturally stopped all of

00:32:32: it?".

00:32:34: These are questions Second question is easier to answer than the first one.

00:32:43: It seems pretty obvious To me that God's will was going to prevail.

00:32:46: rather Rehoboam accepted That this was his will or not, you know We don't have to accept God's Will for it to still happen and so greater question would really be, you know how much are they going to suffer in the process?

00:32:59: Is God just gonna say nope I don't care if he accepted or not.

00:33:02: this is the way it's gonna Be and not allow them to go up and fight.

00:33:05: Or we've got have let him fight And then They Would Have Had To Suffer The Consequences of You Know Not Listening to God and i think that god could have done That Either Way.

00:33:15: you know He Could Have not Allowed Them to Go Up and Fight at all.

00:33:21: you know, just said nope.

00:33:22: You're not going to do it I'm stopping

00:33:24: you.".

00:33:25: Or he could have let them go and fight.

00:33:27: but either way no matter what God's will was going to be done the kingdom was going divided because... Going up in fighting against the Israelites is actually fighting against God Because this was God's Will.

00:33:40: that's why He told him This Is My Will.

00:33:42: So Don't Fight It By Fighting Them Your Fighting my Will.

00:33:46: And so don't Do It.

00:33:47: And so if we do fight against God's will, We're not going to win because God does the things that he says He is going to do.

00:33:58: So it seems pretty obvious they wouldn't have won this battle even though God allowed them.

00:34:04: I don't even know if God was going to uh would have allowed them to fight that battle in the first place.

00:34:11: And so i'm going to read you a couple of supporting scriptures, so that you know i'm not making all of this up... That god is going to do what god's going to and we can't fight against him!

00:34:23: So In Numbers twenty-three nineteen and twenty it says God Is Not A Man That He Can Lie Or A Son Of Man That he Would Repent.

00:34:33: turn away from what he says He's going to do.

00:34:36: Has He said and will He not do, or has He spoken?

00:34:40: And Will He Not make it good?

00:34:41: Behold I've received a command to bless.

00:34:44: God has blessed...and i can't reverse It!

00:34:47: This is a prophet telling the king of Moab that He can't curse God's people because God has blessed the people.

00:34:55: God told him that he has to bless the people and he can't reverse God's blessing, Because when God declares something it happens I Can't undo It.

00:35:05: And so That lets us know right there we can fight against it all We want but its just going To be a struggle and were never Going to win The battle.

00:35:13: whatever god says is going to happen Happens because hes not a liar and he doesn't turn away from what he Says his going do.

00:35:21: And then in first Kings eight fifty-six it says, blessed be the Lord who has given rest to people of Israel according all that he promised.

00:35:30: There is not failed one word...of his good promise that He gave to Moses.

00:35:37: so God's done every single thing that He told Moses He would do.

00:35:41: Job forty two too says I know you can everything and no purpose of yours can be withheld from You.

00:35:49: God can do anything, which again makes us feel so great.

00:35:54: But it also tells us that nothing that God wants to happen is not going to happen.

00:36:00: Nothing can be withheld from Him that He

00:36:03: wants.".

00:36:04: Isaiah fourteen twenty-four to twenty seven the Lord of hosts has sworn saying surely as I've thought So will come to pass and as I have purposed That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and on my mountains tread him underfoot.

00:36:22: Then his yoke will be removed from them And is burdened removed From their shoulders.

00:36:27: This Is The Purpose that I purposed against the whole earth And this is a hand that is stretched out over all nations For the Lord of hosts has purposed And who can annul it?

00:36:40: His Hand is Stretched Out.

00:36:41: Who Can Turn It Back?

00:36:44: And so this is his will that he's talking about here for the Assyrians, but it stands for everything.

00:36:51: When God has stretched out His hand you can't take It away.

00:36:54: when God has purposed something decided Something Is going to happen?

00:36:59: You Can't change it.

00:37:01: Daniel four thirty five all The inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing He does, according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants on earth.

00:37:12: No one can restrain his hand or ask him what have you done?

00:37:18: So it's like... You don't get a question God!

00:37:21: God does His Will on Earth exactly as he did in Heaven.

00:37:25: He is in charge so there are nothing we could do about that.

00:37:31: If that is true, if we believe God's Word and when He promises something or he prophesies something it will come about.

00:37:40: Then the question isn't really whether God's Will was going to be done but how much Rehoboam and Judah were gonna suffer if they didn't accept God's plan right?

00:37:53: And so... How Much Will We Suffer?

00:37:56: That's the question that I think we should be asking ourselves is how much will we suffer if we try to fight against God.

00:38:03: If we don't accept god plans, if...if we find that God trying to say this is a plan and i have and we tried to fight agains that it not gonna go well for us.

00:38:16: God going to fulfill what he has determined to fill in What is again that mean?

00:38:25: that brings us back to the very first question.

00:38:27: right what does that me.

00:38:31: Is god forcing this or is he just using, The people and things they're doing?

00:38:38: so as you like reacting two with a people are doing and so you know if it's a rainbow would have uh... listen to the people then gods will would've been fulfilled in different way.

00:38:51: or was he like, no this is the way that I choose to fulfill my will and i'm not going to let you listen.

00:39:00: And here's what i'm gonna say... Is That?

00:39:05: um..I don't know!

00:39:06: I Don't Know How To Explain Fully This Age Old Question between our free will and God's sovereignty because that is really what we are talking about here.

00:39:18: We do have a Free Will, And God Is Sovereign!

00:39:21: I can't reconcile those two things for you...really not very well..and nobody else can really do it either.

00:39:31: it's been going on since apparently the time that the bible was written because paul has to answer this exact same question in romans when he's talking to the romans.

00:39:42: Apparently, this question comes up and he answers it.

00:39:46: i'm gonna read you his answer here in a second but I want to tell you they doesn't soften god sovereignty just because it offends their sensibilities.

00:39:59: It kind of makes me feel a little bit disconcerted.

00:40:03: that God is, you know fulfilling his plan.

00:40:09: That he has before I ever even come on to the scene possibly right?

00:40:14: And that's a little be disconcerting and so i kinda wanna reconcile all these things.

00:40:19: make it...feel a little better somehow but Paul doesn't do that..and so can't either.

00:40:26: All that im going tell you is what the Bible says, which I already read you some verses and I'm going to read you further.

00:40:35: And also tell you that just because we don't understand doesn't mean we can trust God Because God loves us!

00:40:44: He IS a servant leader.

00:40:47: he's doing in his best interest of US His children.

00:40:52: We can trust him even though we don't understand.

00:40:55: And God tells us that we are humans and we're not going to understand everything, so I'm not gonna stand here in front of you and say...I get this!

00:41:06: all of what God was doing, because that would be arrogant on my behalf.

00:41:11: You know there are certain things that god tells us and we're just not going to understand them...and God tells us that we're NOT going to understand ALL OF THEM!

00:41:20: And THAT IS WHY WE TAKE THEM ON

00:41:22: FATE!!

00:41:22: That's why we TRUST GOD

00:41:24: ANYWAY!!!

00:41:25: So I'm gonna tell you the THINGS THAT GOD SAYS but i am also gonna tell YOU that even though you don't understand it....you can still trust him because he loves you, and because He does have power.

00:41:37: And because He is faithful in those things are our

00:41:41: comfort.".

00:41:43: Because of this we need to accept God's plans... ...and not fight against them!

00:41:52: Here is what Paul says in Romans nine.

00:41:57: This is Romans nine fourteen-to twenty one.

00:42:00: He said What should I say then?

00:42:02: Is there injustice with God?

00:42:05: Certainly not, for he says to Moses that He will have mercy on whoever He'll have mercy and compassion.

00:42:15: And so then... It is not for him who wills, or to whom runs.

00:42:21: But of God Who shows

00:42:22: mercy.".

00:42:23: So what he's saying?

00:42:24: it isn't your will but you want and it doesn' t matter what you do...it matters what God wants!

00:42:40: And so He just spells right out there like I said....he doesn''t soften at all.

00:42:45: I'm sorry that that offends your sensibilities, but he's in charge.

00:42:48: So it doesn't matter what you want and it doesn' t matter What You do.

00:42:51: God is going to Do What He Wants And What HE Is Going To Do because the scripture says about Pharaoh That for this very purpose i raised YOU UP!

00:43:03: That I may show my power IN YOU AND THAT MY NAME MAY BE DECLARED IN ALL OF THE EARTH.

00:43:09: therefore He has mercy on whoever he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whomever he want's to harden.

00:43:17: And so then you might say well how do find fault through me?

00:43:20: If I can't resist your will.

00:43:22: why are you mad at me whenever i'm doing the thing that you already apparently determined that was going to be what it is

00:43:28: saying?".

00:43:30: Then he says... Who Are You To Reply Against God?

00:43:35: Is The Thing That Was Formed Going To Say To One That Has Formed It Why did you make me like this?

00:43:41: Does the potter have the power over the

00:43:43: clay?".

00:43:44: To say of one lump, I'm going to make you this way and another lump.

00:43:50: And so he's saying... He is a creator!

00:43:53: You are The Created.

00:43:54: Don't get to say why do you made Me Like This.

00:43:58: Why Did You Decide That This Is The Way Things Were Going To Go?

00:44:01: I don' t like that.

00:44:03: Paul says sorry but you're not the Creator.

00:44:07: If you were the Creator, You could create things in a way that You wanted to create them but You're not.

00:44:11: So You

00:44:11: can't.".

00:44:12: And we talked about this with Pharaoh whenever initially Moses came to him and says let my people go...you know God said Let My People Go!

00:44:23: ...and it says that Pharaoh's heart was hard.

00:44:27: Not that God hardened his heart But That His Heart Was Hard.

00:44:31: He told The People No And then again, he tells the people no because his heart was hard.

00:44:36: But eventually It seems as though he's going to change his mind.

00:44:40: But the reason that is not because God knew he was never going to do that.

00:45:09: The only reason that He was thinking about changing His mind is because, He didn't want the punishment... Because God had been giving Him these plagues and He's like well I don't want this anymore!

00:45:21: And so i'm just gonna let them have what they want.

00:45:24: but God knew that He wasn't doing it for the right reasons ...and so this time God hardened his heart and He said I'm not going to let you get out of the consequences basically just to get all the consequences because your heart is not changed.

00:45:39: And so, i am going to harden and continue to give you consequences until you let my people go So that...I can use YOU!

00:45:49: I can use YOUR hard heart, your rebellion against me To show myself TO THE WORLD!

00:45:56: And he said I CHOSED TO DO THAT!

00:45:59: You cant question God Because he's God.

00:46:03: He is the creator and so when you make something, You get to make it in a way that you want To Make It And as The Creator ,you know the best Way to Make it right?

00:46:13: You Know what your doing!

00:46:15: And you care about things That you make.

00:46:17: So you're not Doing just because you are Being on this power trip.

00:46:22: I'm making Things the way i wanna make them.

00:46:24: No Your Making it that way.

00:46:27: You want to create this beautiful thing or this useful things, whatever.

00:46:31: And so God is the Creator and He gets to make things in a way that he makes things...and I don't understand everything because i'm person!

00:46:40: That's what he says us in Isaiah.

00:46:42: fifty-five eight two eleven....he said My thoughts are not your thoughts & my ways are NOT your Ways Just as heavens are higher than earth..my ways are Higher Than Your Ways & my Thoughts Are Higher Than your Thoughts.

00:46:57: For as the rain comes down and snow comes from heaven, And they don't return there but water earth.

00:47:04: They make it bring forth bud and give seed and bread to

00:47:09: eater.".

00:47:10: So will my word be that come from My mouth!

00:47:13: It will not return to me void, but it will accomplish what I please and prosper the thing in which i sent it for.

00:47:19: And so we all know that water you know... The rain comes down to the earth ...and it also returns back up to heaven!

00:47:26: You know evaporates and we have this continuous cycle.... But he says it doesn't return back up until it fulfills the purpose of feeding the Earth and watering the seed and bringing forth the flower.

00:47:42: And so he says that's the same as when I send my word to the earth.

00:47:46: When i declare something down to the Earth, it doesn't just bounce right back up to me.

00:47:52: we don't get too...when God sends his Word Back Down We Don't Get To Say Nope!

00:47:56: Back Up!

00:47:56: I'm not doing That.

00:47:58: No He Said It's Going to Accomplish Whatever I sent it to accomplish and then it will return to Me.

00:48:05: Fruitful Right?

00:48:07: So..we could be mad And we could question God and we can say why do you make it this way?

00:48:13: Why do you determine these things beforehand, then still find fault with me if I don't do the thing that you want to.

00:48:23: We would be upset about that but also saying its because we dont understand... If stopped there might not even be sufficient.. But he says no!

00:48:35: You dont understand....but i am telling that my ways are better than yours, and my thoughts are better then yours.

00:48:43: And so there's no reason for you to question me... So instead of concerning ourselves with how all this works we just need to be glad that we serve a God who has unconditional love for his people an infinite wisdom and perfect plans in the power to carry him out.

00:49:04: if we believe all If we believe that God has the power and that bothers us, then we got to keep going further.

00:49:13: We have to realize not only does he have the power to do what He wants but his ways are the best way for him is the right way in which he loves us working it all together for ALL of US TO HAVE THE BEST WAY!

00:49:29: and we know that we can't do that.

00:49:30: I don't have any idea what is good for the whole entire world, but God does!

00:49:36: And so you just have to trust Him...know he has the wisdom....to know his best for us.....the love to give it to him......and the power to make this happen.

00:49:47: In Romans eight thirty-one to thirty nine it says What should be said about these things then?

00:49:54: If God is for us, who can be against us?

00:49:57: He Who doesn't spare his own son but delivered him up all.

00:50:01: How shall he not with Him also freely give us things?

00:50:07: Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?

00:50:10: It is God who justifies!

00:50:13: Who is He who

00:50:14: condemns?!

00:50:15: It is Christ who died and furthermore is also risen—who even at the right hand of God who also makes intercession for us.

00:50:25: So, Who should separate us from the love of Christ?

00:50:28: Should tribulation or distress or persecution or famine and nakedness or peril or sword as it is written For your sake we are killed all day long.

00:50:39: We are counted as sheep for slaughter.

00:50:42: Yet in these things more than conquerors through him who led us I am persuaded that neither death nor life Nor angels, nor principalities or powers.

00:50:52: Nor anything present to come.

00:50:55: Nor height of depth, nor any created thing shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

00:51:02: and so if we believe that If we believe that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and he is always watching after us.

00:51:14: And using his power to do what's best for us then we cannot be upset right?

00:51:18: We can't be upset That His Power Is Working On This Earth!

00:51:24: Doing things or may not like because we have to remember Just Because We Don't Like It Doesn't Mean Its Right.

00:51:31: As A Matter Of Fact if it's against God Then its Wrong.

00:51:35: Romans eleven thirty-three, thirty four says oh the depth of the riches.

00:51:40: both have wisdom and knowledge of God.

00:51:43: How unsearchable are his judgments in ways past finding out for who has known the mind of the Lord or become His counselor?

00:51:52: God is infinitely wise an infinite infinitely knowledgeable And so his judgment's decisions Are The Best And we may not understand them, but that is okay.

00:52:07: As long as we believe That his ways are better than our ways then We don't have to understand him.

00:52:15: all we have To do is trust Him.

00:52:17: second Corinthians five seven says we walk by faith and Not by sight?

00:52:23: We can't Understand them But that's the reason that we Have to have Faith And so we can accept his word and accept that it's true, and trust him even when we don't understand.

00:52:45: Psalm one nineteen-one sixty says the entirety of your Word is True in every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever!

00:52:55: So instead trying to figure out exactly how all this works we should just focus on the fact that God's word is full of wonderful promises and prophecies, but can't be broken because he is faithful to fulfill all his promises.

00:53:15: And so I'm glad you serve a god who has wisdom in order for him or her power to do it... ...and loves enough to think about being that servant leader that elders were trying to tell Rehoboam And that he's doing whatever is best for you and all the rest of people on this earth, and his kingdom in heaven.

00:53:43: Hopefully your able to just trust in the Lord even when you don't understand believing That His ways are higher than our way.

00:53:55: He knows what hes' doing.

00:53:56: Even we dont quite understand and that it's okay.

00:54:00: you don't understand.

00:54:01: It is OK we can't quite reconcile his sovereignty in our free will, all we have to do is believe his word...and that its true!

00:54:11: And trust him....eventually he'll understand.

00:54:16: but it doesn't matter.

00:54:17: right now We dont' have to understand how of the works.

00:54:20: All we need to know is Trust Him.

00:54:23: That's all that I have for you today, and next week we will talk about Jeroboam's rule in the North.

00:54:30: So make sure to subscribe so don't miss out on any of those episodes!

00:54:33: And then also if you'd like a blog post along with this, become a free subscriber at livethorjesus.substack.com.

00:54:42: If you would like to see clips or scriptures from this, join me on social media at LiveThor Jesus.

00:54:52: Thanks and have a good day.