1 Kings 11:30-32 "and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces. Then he said to Jeroboam, ‘Take ten of these pieces, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and I will give ten of the tribes to you.’”

1 Kings 12:1-2 “Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to make him king. When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of this, he returned from Egypt, for he had fled to Egypt to escape from King Solomon.”

Rehoboam was the son of King Solomon and rightful heir to the throne of Israel. Unfortunately, his reign was going to begin with a potentially huge problem – the tearing apart of his father’s kingdom. Not a great beginning to be sure. When Jeroboam, the man who stood to inherit the larger portion of the kingdom returns for the coronation, things were likely quite tense. God had already revealed his will to Jeroboam through the prophet Ahijah. He had also personally delivered the message to Solomon before he died. God is never at a loss for finding ways to get the message of his will to those who need to hear it. When time is of the essence, God has been, to say the least, quite dramatic. Whether he uses a burning bush (see Moses), chooses to have you swallowed by a giant fish (see Jonah), uses a common, every-day, barnyard animal to speak it (see Balaam’s talking donkey Num. 22:28), or he chooses to spell it out personally for you (see the ‘handwriting on the wall’ Daniel 5), God will get the word to you. Today, he may simply choose to work through the godly people around to help reveal his will.

Pray: Heavenly Father, sometimes my own impatience can hinder me from hearing your word and your will for me in a given situation. As time grows short, my anxiety can only add to the problem. I thank you, Father, that in these times you can use those faithful around me to deliver your message or help me discover it for myself. May I have the wisdom to recognize it, hear it, and act upon it. In Jesus’ holy name I pray – Amen.