Topic: THE COST OF DISOBEDIENCE (II)
Text: 1 Kings 11:14-25
11:14 Now the Lord raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was a descendant of the king in Edom.
11:15 For it happened, when David was in Edom, and Joab the commander of the army had gone up to bury the slain, after he had killed every male in Edom
11:16 (because for six months Joab remained there with all Israel, until he had cut down every male in Edom),
11:17 that Hadad fled to go to Egypt, he and certain Edomites of his father’s servants with him. Hadad was still a little child.
11:18 Then they arose from Midian and came to Paran; and they took men with them from Paran and came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, apportioned food for him, and gave him land.
11:19 And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him as wife the sister of his own wife, that is, the sister of Queen Tahpenes
11:20 Then the sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house. And Genubath was in Pharaoh’s household among the sons of Pharaoh.
11:21 So when Hadad heard in Egypt that David [a]rested with his fathers, and that Joab the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, [b]“Let me depart, that I may go to my own country.”
11:22 Then Pharaoh said to him, “But what have you lacked with me, that suddenly you seek to go to your own country?”So he answered, “Nothing, but do let me go anyway.”
11:23 And God raised up another adversary against him, Rezon the son of Eliadah, who had fled from his lord, Hadadezer king of Zobah.
11:24 So he gathered men to him and became captain over a band of raiders, when David killed those of Zobah. And they went to Damascus and dwelt there, and reigned in Damascus.
11:25 He was an adversary of Israel all the days of Solomon (besides the trouble that Hadad caused); and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.
STUDY:
Yesterday, we saw how disobedience to God can affect a coming generation. Today, we see another consequence of disobedience to God. God raised up an adversary—Hadad of the royal family of Edom—against Solomon. Before this time, Hadad and some of his father’s Edomite servants who escaped to Egypt after David conquered Edom, had settled there, having won the friendship of the king. When the news reached Hadad in Egypt that David had died, he returned home, possibly for revenge; he was an evil and bitter enemy of Israel (v. 24). Hadad only arose because Solomon had missed his way with God.
From this story, we see that walking in disobedience to God empowers the enemy against us. Disobedience to God is like HIV—it breaks the walls of a man’s defence and protection against the enemy. He becomes exposed and vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. But when we obey God, He makes even our enemies to be at peace with us. In the days of Joshua, God gave the people rest round about (Josh. 21:44). The LORD gave them peace throughout the land, such that no one of all their enemies was able to stand against them. There are battles God keeps us away from, just to help and allow us focus on other important issues of life.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, have mercy on me and give me rest round about.
Watch Today’s Anglican Daily Fountain Devotional:
Watch the devotion on ACNNTV YouTube Channel
Partner with ACNNTV
Help us reach the world with the undiluted Word of God. Make Donations through our website or via the details below:
Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion ACNN Account
Account Number: 1016868363 (Zenith Bank)
Thank you for joining the Kingdom Partners today
