The Lord Responds To Our Choices - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 12:7,

"When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: 'Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance...'"

We are told at the beginning of this chapter that after Rehoboam's position as king had become established in Judah and that he had strengthened his rule as king, he and all the people abandoned the Lord. This is a common theme in the Scriptures, helping us to understand the nature of our sinful nature. Give us peace and prosperity and we will drift away from the Lord. Here is why the "health and wealth" crowd in the church has it wrong. When they say, "The Lord loves you and doesn't want you to be poor, does he?" The answer should always be, "Because the Lord loves me, he insures I am always dependent upon him."

In any event, as Rehoboam and all Israel abandoned the Lord, the Lord sent the king of Egypt, Sheshak, and captured much of Rehoboam's kingdom. In response, Rehoboam humbled himself and the Lord responded through the prophet Shemaiah as our passage above states.

Here is yet another example of how the Lord responds to decisions we make. The Lord brought his judgment against Rehoboam due to his turning from the Lord, and when Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord responded by stopping his own judgment. 

Far from being minarets, when the Lord created us, he gave us each our own free will. He has chosen to respond to the choices we make. Rehoboam rebelled, the Lord responded one way, Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord responded another way.

That the Lord will change what might otherwise take place based on choices we make is the efficacious principle behind prayer. 

On the flip side of this account is the reality that the Lord does those things to bring about what he desires. His agenda during the time of the judges, the kings, the captivity of Judah, and her return to the land was to prepare the nation for the coming of her Messiah.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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