## Rehoboam Fell Into Jeroboam's Trap

Let us examine 1 Kings, Chapter 12. The central theme is clear: God blinded Rehoboam with foolishness, while Jeroboam deliberately chose the path of folly himself.

**"Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt." (1 Kings 12:1-2)**

Jeroboam was summoned back by the Israelites. Upon his return, he engineered a shrewd tactical move: send Rehoboam to Shechem under the pretext that the people intended to crown him king. This resembles political drama at the highest level. The calculation was simple—win over the populace completely. Jeroboam was a master tactician; he dug a pit and laid a trap for Rehoboam to step right into.

**"So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: '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.'" (1 Kings 12:3-4)**

They passed the ball directly into Rehoboam's court. Rehoboam asked for three days to deliberate. But everyone knew the man’s calibre—they doubted if he possessed the mental sharpness to devise any workable strategy. So Rehoboam consulted the elders first for advice on how to respond. The elders knew Jeroboam well; they understood his background. Their advice was straightforward: do not jump into the pit.

"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." This is powerful governance logic. If a leader fails to grasp that water can float a boat but also capsize it, he will be consumed by arrogance. God’s intention is never for us to lord it over others. Whoever desires to be great must be the servant of all. This principle is immutable. As long as I have breath in me, I choose to be a servant and serve others. This is not boasting or empty rhetoric; it is fundamental wisdom.

Solomon’s method was to launch one mega-project after another, exacting heavy labor from his people. He appointed overseers to manage this vast workforce. Countless laborers spent their strength building for Solomon. But to be fair, work was compensated; no one labored for nothing.

When Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, succeeded him, he inherited none of his father’s intelligence. Instead, he behaved foolishly. Did he not realize that his status as a privileged heir was entirely built on his father's hard-won empire? Yet he lacked all self-awareness and thought himself extraordinary. In my own journey—from starting a business to founding a church—I have dealt with countless people and crises. It taught me a hard lesson: there is always a higher sky, a taller mountain, and a more capable person.

Rehoboam understood none of this. He rejected the counsel of the elders: "Are you old fools telling me to become their servant? Have you lost your minds? Stand aside!" Instead, he turned to the foolish young men he had grown up with.

**"But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He asked them, 'What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, "Lighten the yoke your father put on us"?' The young men who had grown up with him replied, 'These people have said to you, "Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter." Now tell them, "My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. My 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."'" (1 Kings 12:8-11)**

In truth, Jeroboam had sized up Rehoboam completely. He could predict his every foolish move. Why? Because when Jeroboam was a sharp, competent general under Solomon, Rehoboam was still playing in the dirt, completely clueless. Jeroboam saw right through him: the boy was useless. Do you understand this? How could such a person ever amount to anything?

Make no mistake—do not confuse keeping a low profile with weakness. That is prudence and wisdom. But Rehoboam didn't get it. His father Solomon was an unprecedented genius in intellect and wisdom. Who was Rehoboam to brag? Did he know how the Temple was built? Did he know how the royal palace was constructed? He knew absolutely nothing! He just surrounded himself with spoiled youths who spent their days playing games, talking nonsense, driving fast chariots, and accomplishing nothing of substance.

Remember this clearly: if wealth is not earned through your own sweat and blood, do not assume it truly belongs to you. It does not!

**"I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless." (Ecclesiastes 2:18-19)**

Solomon looked at Rehoboam, examined his other sons, and saw that not a single one was bright. Left with no better choice among weak candidates, he settled on Rehoboam, comforting himself: "It matters not. I have written Ecclesiastes and realized that everything in this life is vanity of vanities. Let him play his games."

Although Rehoboam fell for the trap, it triggered a remarkable turn of events. Jeroboam, too, began to grow arrogant. Seeing Rehoboam jump into the pit, Jeroboam said to the northern tribes: "Look at this arrogant fool." When Rehoboam delivered his reckless reply, the people revolted immediately: "What share do we have in David? Do you think we owe you anything? We were already contemplating rebellion when your father worked us to the bone. Do you know how many died in those quarry pits moving massive stones and timber? And now you threaten us with scorpions? We owe you nothing!"

A ruler like Rehoboam cannot survive when pitted against an operative like Jeroboam. Rehoboam was utterly outmatched in this political game. Jeroboam understood power dynamics intimately. And what happened next?

**"So 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 Ahijah the Shilonite." (1 Kings 12:15)**

It was God who struck Rehoboam with foolishness, was it not? Even Solomon could not have anticipated his son being this incompetent. Let me tell you this truth: the moment a person becomes arrogant, God will surely reduce him to a fool. Reflect on this carefully. What reason did Rehoboam have to be arrogant? Had he not read Solomon's Ecclesiastes and Proverbs? They explicitly state that pride invites God's swift judgment. Arrogance guarantees ruin.

Thus, the people of Israel backed Jeroboam. He quietly assumed the kingship, finally standing tall with popular support. The Israelites saw clearly that Rehoboam was unfit to rule. Add "Jero-" to "Boam", and everything changes—at least Jeroboam shares a prefix with Jehovah! Though I say this lightheartedly, you must understand the mindset of the Israelites at that moment. If this sentiment spread across the nation, how could Rehoboam ever turn the tide?

History shows that the masses are a formidable force. Look at how the Qing Dynasty was dismantled by Sun Yat-sen and his movement—it was the unstoppable tide of public sentiment. We must understand this logic. As pastors, we are merely servants. Regardless of position, remember: leadership is not about exercising authority; it is about carrying weight and responsibility! You must shepherd with the heart of a father and mother. Why? Because that is God’s mandate!

Brothers and sisters, take heed. Do not imitate Rehoboam's folly. I have seen pastors drive their churches straight into the ground. How could it not fail? Whom did you serve? What real problems did you solve? How did you minister? Did you think wearing a grand vestment and holding a shepherd’s staff made you powerful? That is useless. Rehoboam didn't sense the danger either; upon returning home, he immediately mobilized for war.

## Rehoboam Still Thought the Kingdom Belonged to Him

Rehoboam sat there gloating: "I am the anointed king!" If the people do not recognize your authority, you are nobody. How blind can a man be?

**"When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king: 'What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse's son? To your tents, Israel! Look after your own house, David!' So the Israelites went home." (1 Kings 12:16)**

The Israelites told Rehoboam plainly: "Go play by yourself. We have no allegiance to you, so why should we follow you?" But Rehoboam remained oblivious. He sent Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, to command the Israelites. The Israelites promptly stoned Adoniram to death. Adoniram was equally foolish—at a time like this, why go there? Did he think holding a whip would compel obedience? He failed to see that Jeroboam held a far bigger whip.

Consequently, the man was executed right before Rehoboam's eyes. Seeing the situation escalate, Rehoboam fled in his chariot. This series of disastrous miscalculations by Rehoboam leaves one utterly stunned. Yet, all this was orchestrated by God. When a man is blinded by folly, no amount of reasoning can pull him back.

Remember this well: if a person loves money, pursues worldly gain, coddles his flesh, and refuses to obey the word of God, God will hand him over to foolishness. That is a certainty.

Whether a person is wise or foolish rests entirely in God's hands. Whether you are a king, a high minister, a billionaire, or a top-tier state leader, it avails nothing! When a man becomes foolish, his mind is utterly clouded. God-given foolishness results in irrational and bizarre thinking.

**"When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand choice warriors—to fight against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam son of Solomon. But this word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: 'Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, to all Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, "This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing."' So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home again, as the Lord had ordered." (1 Kings 12:21-24)**

Rehoboam’s command lost all weight. Do you see? When God brings foolishness upon a man, not only does Israel reject him, but even Judah and Benjamin cease to obey his orders. When Shemaiah announced that this was the Lord's doing, the army simply disbanded. Moments earlier, Rehoboam had sounded the war drums and gathered 180,000 men; then Shemaiah took the stage and dismissed them all. What a colossal waste of effort. The king stood there utterly stunned.

Can you picture that scene? It was immensely embarrassing. 180,000 elite troops assembled for nothing—like a mega-concert cancelled right before start time, with the audience demanding immediate refunds.

In a single night, Rehoboam became an international laughingstock. You thought you were formidable and grand? Look at where you ended up. How do you face the world after that? Not just as a king—even a pop singer would be ruined if his venue was dismantled like that. How could Rehoboam show his face anywhere? He must have wanted to hide in shame. But his stiff-necked pride and rigidity made even humility impossible. This is the tragic depth of divine judgment through foolishness.

## This Matter Is From God

Let me be blunt: to be ignorant of God's will is the definition of foolishness. How could Rehoboam not know what God had spoken to Solomon? Why did he insist on making a fool of himself? Because whenever a man insists on stepping into the limelight and believing he is hot stuff, he is finished.

For myself, whatever I do in this life, I choose to keep a low profile. I know my own limitations; I know we are nothing more than dust on this earth. Before God, I am fully aware of my own insignificance.

Why? Perhaps when God sees my posture of humility, I may obtain His grace to live my life entirely reliant on His mercy. Who am I to be chosen by God to serve Him? I am unworthy. Not a single shred of success belongs to my own credit. None at all.

Why am I speaking of myself while preaching on Rehoboam? My point is simple: I never want to become a Rehoboam.

Receiving grace merely means accepting the responsibility to serve. Do not inflate your ego. Life itself holds no intrinsic glory for man to boast of. So why would anyone suddenly inflate with pride? Just because you accomplished a small feat, you think you are extraordinary? Do you know why I refuse to puff myself up? Because the moment I do, spiritual forces of darkness will ride on my neck, and that will be a disaster.

Let me issue a clear warning: if you think you are exceptional, trouble will follow. God will reduce you to foolishness, and everything you touch will go wrong. Why? Because if you think you are a great talent, God will expose your worthlessness; but if you recognize your own dust-like nature, God will lift you up into a person of honor. This spiritual law is absolute and unwavering.

Have you noticed this pattern? A person fancies himself extraordinary. He manages to accomplish something, and immediately his tail wags so high he nearly overturns the very throne of God. God looks at him and asks, "Whose tail is wagging so aggressively?" Upon looking closer, God says, "Ah, it is this arrogant fellow again. I must ensure he does not succeed next time." Do you understand what happens then? Satan approaches God and asks, "Lord, shall I go and deal with him?" God replies, "I was just looking for someone to discipline him. Go ahead." Mark my words: this entire affair originates from God.

Can we stop boasting? Can we stop asserting our own self-righteousness? Be sensible. In everything we do, look to the Lord God and rely solely on Him. That is true wisdom. Forget about becoming "famous pastors," going on circuit tours, or chasing cheap money. What is the value of those pursuits compared to being chosen by God and pleasing Him? Whatever modest ability I possess—and this present circumstance—comes entirely from God. For God intends to make us wise, just as He caused Rehoboam to become foolish.

The Anxiety of Jeroboam

You can easily examine yourselves against this text. Reflect carefully: are you acting like Jeroboam?

Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built Penuel. Jeroboam thought to himself, "The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam." (1 Kings 12:25-27)

Do you see his line of reasoning? Why did Jeroboam lack these anxieties before he became king? Human nature is a peculiar thing. Jeroboam originally harbored ambitions to expand his power. Suddenly, he was handed ten tribes. He thought to himself: "How did I secure ten tribes for myself? Look at how effective my scheme was. I trapped Rehoboam right in my pocket. How clever and powerful I am!" Then he reflected further: "God gave me these ten tribes, but if the people return to Jerusalem to worship God, that poses a severe threat. They make their money under my rule, only to return to Jerusalem to give their sacrifices and offerings? How can I allow such a arrangement?"

I tell you, no matter how he calculated it, he was consumed by conflict. Am I right? Frankly, I am quite amazed by some of our brothers and sisters here. When they had no money, they had no worries. Now that they have acquired a little wealth, anxieties set in. Do not find this strange; it is entirely typical. Sometimes I think to myself that it is a blessing I do not possess vast wealth. I am like what Jack Ma described—someone who was happiest holding just a modest sum. Jack Ma noted that he was extremely happy when he had a few million, but once his wealth grew to tens or hundreds of billions, his happiness vanished.

I used to wonder: if God suddenly entrusted me with a hundred million dollars, wouldn't I be forced to manage and invest it? But wealth management is an unpredictable game. If my capital shrinks from a hundred million to ninety million, then to fifty million, and down to ten million, imagine the agonizing distress. How could a hundred million turn into ten million? And finally, ten million becomes one million. Having one million originally brought contentment, but dropping from a hundred million to one million brings sheer misery.

I see this happen repeatedly. Truth be told, I cannot manage a hundred million dollars, nor can I handle tens of millions. I simply do not know how to spend or invest such sums; my management would only diminish it. I cannot read the stock market, nor can I predict gold prices. Thank God He did not give me a hundred million. The present arrangement is far better.

Jeroboam had never governed a state. Handed ten tribes overnight, he was utterly unprepared. How was he to manage such a vast population? He decided to tackle the issue of offerings first: ensure the wealth remains within his own borders. His economic logic seemed airtight, and he convinced himself his reasoning was sound.

Consider some of our brothers and sisters. It is fortunate they earn a stable, modest salary. If they suddenly became wealthy, given their limited capacity, their investment choices would be worse than mine. What an unnecessary headache! I came to realize that Jeroboam found it nearly impossible to overcome the trial of money. When you are not sitting in that seat of authority, you cannot comprehend the immense difficulty of that position. Day in and day out, he agonized over what to do.

Consider this scenario: suppose God's altar were located in Taiwan, and the citizens of Mainland China were the Israelites who had to tithe 17% of their income to the temple in Taiwan. I ask you, how could any government manage such a state? I genuinely sympathize with Jeroboam's predicament. He had no viable answers, yet on paper, the math simply did not work in his favor. Was it not far better for Jeroboam to stay comfortably in Egypt, enjoying good food, drink, and a luxury villa? Now, tasked with ruling ten tribes, he was overwhelmed by endless anxieties.

The Folly of Jeroboam

After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Dan. Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites.

He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also stationed priests of the high places he had made. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings. (1 Kings 12:28-33)

Let me state this clearly: human wisdom is sheer foolishness in the sight of God. From a purely secular standpoint, Jeroboam made an exceptionally shrewd political calculation. If you are blind to the spiritual realm, his move appears brilliant. But if you understand spiritual realities, you realize how misguided it truly was. Human wisdom is folly to God, just as divine wisdom appears as folly to worldly men.

Consider the alternative: what if Jeroboam had declared, "I will trust in God and commit this nation to Him. Since God granted me this kingdom, I will serve Him faithfully"? Could he have succeeded? Absolutely. To this day, our Chinese Mingding Doctrine stands firmly upon one unshakeable rule: we will never bow to idols, and we will walk unswervingly in God's will. Even if I make a mistake, God is capable of pulling me back. Why am I not stubborn? Because I recognize with absolute clarity that human wisdom is nothing but folly before God.

I have no desire to be Rehoboam, nor do I wish to be Jeroboam. Some people advise me: "Pastor, you must expand and build a massive organization!" I tell them, "Nonsense." They ask, "Why decline? Isn't bigger and stronger better?" I reply, "Building a massive apparatus is the fastest route to prison!" That is practical wisdom. I do not possess that kind of capacity, nor can I manage ten tribes. Even if handed to me, the temptation would be dangerous; I might end up constructing a golden calf myself because of human limitations.

Certain pastors love constructing mega-churches costing hundreds of millions, boasting tens of thousands of seats packed on Sundays. It looks impressive on the surface, but how many end up incarcerated in the end? I refuse to engage in such folly. I prefer a focused, manageable work. I will do whatever is within my capacity. My firm resolve is that until my final breath, I will serve—serving those in need, the weak, and those who approach God seeking His grace. Is that not a far better path?

If God grants me mercy, He will fulfill this modest desire. My overarching vision is that every brother and sister among us becomes an elite soldier of God, capable of defeating spiritual darkness and overcoming the spirit of the "Old Horse."

Just last night, a sister among us broke free from the torment of the "Old Horse." That demonic spirit harassed her nightly, making noise whenever she drifted off to sleep. I advised her: "Either resolve to stay awake and cast it out, or exercise discipline over yourself." She replied, "Pastor, I choose to cast it out." After an hour of intense prayer, the spirit could no longer withstand the pressure; it manifested, spoke, and surrendered.

Brothers and sisters, can we cast off the folly of Jeroboam and obtain divine wisdom? Remember this key truth: human reasoning detached from God is demonic deception. Man must align with God's will rather than human impulses.

Jeroboam's policies made complete sense from political and economic perspectives, yet they were completely wrong before God. We must strip away human self-cleverness and reject these falsehoods. Seeking human approval offers no lasting value. If I were still trying to please men, I could not be a servant of Jesus Christ. If you seek solely to please God and serve Him alone in this world, I guarantee you will prosper in all things. Do not fall back into the foolishness of Jeroboam.

What was the underlying spiritual reality? As Jeroboam lay in bed at night, the spirit of the "Old Horse" influenced his mind, leading him to construct golden calves. Was Jeroboam ignorant of how Aaron built a golden calf during the Exodus and provoked God's wrath? He knew the history full well; it was recorded in the Scriptures. Yet he completely blanked out, forgetting that idol worship brings swift judgment. If God could cause Rehoboam to act foolishly, rendering Jeroboam foolish was effortless for Him. Do you realize how many pastors spend their lives chasing institutional fame, completely blind to their own foolishness?

I do not seek personal fame; I prefer to make God's name known while remaining obscure myself—as the Scripture says, "They saw no one except Jesus only." What am I? Merely a servant. We must not fall into Jeroboam's trap. Let me caution you further: a little money can make you foolish, and vast wealth can make you equally foolish. Recognize that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

Human existence is fundamentally straightforward; do not overcomplicate it. When you please God, everything becomes clear and manageable, for our Heavenly Father possesses infinite wealth. I never want to wake up one day to find I became a fool by choosing Jeroboam's path. Nor do I want anyone here to choose the path of Rehoboam or Jeroboam. Engrave God's word upon your hearts, and all matters will become remarkably straightforward.

God Makes Some Foolish; Others Make Themselves Foolish

A sister mentioned recently that studying the Gospel of Matthew deeply impacted her. Why? Because the practical truths declared there are unassailable.

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammon." (Matthew 6:24)

A person serves either Mammon or God; serving both simultaneously is impossible. In the spiritual hierarchy, Mammon is the lowest, most vulgar entity. Our God, by contrast, is supreme, awesome, powerful, majestic, and exalted. Make no mistake in your spiritual understanding: even low-level spirits hold the spirit of wealth in complete contempt.

So why does the spiritual reality differ so drastically from worldly perceptions? Numerous individuals collapse due to financial entanglements. Look at the corporate scandals of our era—huge conglomerates collapsing overnight. The root cause is always money and flawed internal logic. When you read Matthew, you realize there are two competing logical frameworks, two value systems, and two distinct kingdoms in this world. If you align with God's kingdom and His principles, you receive His blessings and become truly wise. Even demonic forces and spiritual powers of darkness will be forced to submit before you.

I am pleased to report that the "Old Horse" is a defeated foe under my feet. Previously, I often felt burdened because few in the church could overcome this spirit. Today, I am filled with absolute confidence. Our brothers and sisters are rising up to overcome the "Old Horse," to conquer Mammon, to overcome worldly allurements, to master bodily lusts, and to subdue inherent sin—becoming true overcomers and wise individuals.

If you regularly listen to my messages, you will sense my deep conviction: I desire every brother and sister to become genuinely wise and discerning. The answer is established—trust in God and live by His grace. If you currently face complex difficulties, do not fear. Rely steadfastly on God, return to His presence, and your problems will be resolved.

Whether you face conflicts with employers, business partners, suppliers, or clients, these temporal disputes cannot undermine our faith in God. God will grant you insight and wisdom, for He is the source of all true understanding.

Examples of people bringing disaster upon themselves through the love of money are everywhere, and we are not immune. We must draw profound lessons from Rehoboam and Jeroboam. A calf may be made of gold, but it remains utterly useless—an monument to human folly. Let nothing entice us away from the path of God. Amen!

May God bless you all!

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