November 21, 2025

Though I felt sorry for Jeroboam because Rehoboam caused the kingdom to split into the northern and southern kingdoms, I’m now angry with Jeroboam. (Refer to 2 Chronicles 10.) When the land was sectioned off back in the time of Joshua, each tribe was required to give a portion of land to the Levites, who were the priests of the temple and were to provide them with all the necessities, as they were not allotted any land; they were to find their sustenance in God. What were the priests of the northern kingdom to do now that they were separated from the temple at Jerusalem? Jeroboam had set up calves and idols to the devils, and wouldn’t allow the Levite priest to continue in their assigned duty at the temple. So they left their homes and went to Jerusalem to be near the temple, so that they could continue their duty to God. They left the comfort of their homes and all their possessions because it was more important to be free to serve God and even face the possibility of becoming poor than to stay where they were no longer allowed to do their duty to God. They left all they had in pursuit of God. 

What are you hanging onto that prevents you from worshipping God fully? How willing are you to leave everything you have to pursue a relationship with God? You must be willing to leave everything behind to follow Jesus; he taught this lesson himself. God strengthened Rehoboam’s kingdom because all their priests were there. Was God testing the commitment of the Levite priests? It could be.

And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers. 2 Chronicles 11:16