I Kings 12:1-15

1. 1Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all the Israelites had gone there to make him king. 2When Jeroboam son of Nebatheard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. I Kings 12:1-15

2. 3So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: 4“Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” I Kings 12:1-15

3. 5Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then come back to me.” So the people went away. I Kings 12:1-15

4. 6Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked. I Kings 12:1-15

5. 7They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” I Kings 12:1-15

6. 8But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. I Kings 12:1-15

7. 9He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?” I Kings 12:1-15

8. 10The young men who had grown up with him replied, “Tell these people who have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter’ – tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. I Kings 12:1-15

9. 11My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’” I Kings 12:1-15

10. 12Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” I Kings 12:1-15

11. 13The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, 14he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” I Kings 12:1-15

12. I Kings 12:1-15 15So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word the LORD had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijahthe Shilonite.

13. Discovering God’s Will #2 “Asking For Directions”

15. God’s will is found within three contexts: • His providential will • His moral will • His personal will

16. Always remember that God wants you to Know His Will even more than you want to know His will.

17. Sometimes I need to know now… right now!

19. I Kings 11:11-12 11 So the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant. 12 Nevertheless I will not do it in your days for the sake of your father David, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son.

20. I Kings 11:43 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David, and his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.

21. I Kings 12:3-4 3 Then they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4“Your father made our yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”

22. Rehoboam’s wise decisions (vs 5-6): • Asks for moretime. • Sought wisecounsel.

23. He did the thing all of us need to do when forced with a pressure packed decision with a great deal at stake. He asked for the insight of men who are older and wiser.

24. Their advice: 7 Then they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant them their petition, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”

25. Rehoboam’s foolish decision: rejected wise counsel.

26. Two principles illustrated: • The need to cooperate with God’s providentialwill. • The value of older, wiser believers.

27. Often asked to make tough decisions: • Too close to be objective. • Arena where information is over my head. • Decision making environment is too complex.

28. So God has made it simple. He has given us a short cut. EACH OTHER

29. Verses to consider: • Proverbs 1:5 • A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel… • Proverbs 13:10 • By pride and insolence comes only contention, but with the well-advised is skillful and godly Wisdom.

30. Verses to consider: • Proverbs 12:15 • The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel. • Proverbs 19:20 • Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days.

31. Verses to consider: • Proverbs 11:14 • Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory. • Proverbs 15:22 • Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed.

32. One of the primary ways God speaks to us is through counsel-

33. One of the primary ways God speaks to us is through counsel- listen carefully and strategically.

34. Five principles for choosing wise counsel: • Someone who has nothingtolose by telling you the truth. • Someone who is where you wanttobe and has a goodmap. • Ask more than oneperson. • Ask someone you know and someone you don’tknow. • Go in aware that God may usethesituation.

35. Three questions to ask: • Are there any options I am considering outside the boundaries of scripture? • What is the wisething to do? • What would you do ifyouwereme?

36. Two primary reasons we fail: • Pride • Already know what I’m going to hear and- I don’t wanttohearit!