Journey Of The Seed - Catch The Bible's Big Picture In 60 DaysSample

SOAKING IT IN

[Scheduled Reading: 1 Kings 11 continued ]

We’re at the middle of our 60-day reading journey. 

It’s a good day to take another pause from the reading plan (or catch up) and reflect on this change of fortune for Israel. 

Centuries of forward progress (for Israel) are reversed in a single generation. 

From Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob… and all the way to King Solomon – was fifteen generations of fathers in the line of The Seed. The era covered roughly one thousand years. 

Aside from the usual fickle-faith hiccups in the journey, things seemed to be working for The Seed. 

During this millennial season, The Seed:

-  departed from Ur and settled in Canaan (Abram), 

-  journeyed to Egypt to escape famine (Jacob), 

-  escaped from slavery back out of Egypt (led by Moses),

-  entered the Promised Land (led by Joshua). 

Along the way The Seed went from a small family, to a large family, to a collection of tribes, to a mighty nation. 

As The Seed attained kingdom status, it achieved military dominance (under David) and ultimately world-renowned wealth and prosperity (under Solomon).  

Next, The Seed begins a new trajectory - back to the bottom.  

Just one man (King Solomon) triggers its downfall. God sets this fall in motion during Rehoboam’s reign.

Rehoboam(#35) was Solomon’s son – and next in the line of The Seed. 

Here’s how the kingdom collapse unfolds in 1 Kings 11.

1.  God tells Solomon his kingdom will be torn apart.

2.  It will happen during Rehoboam’s reign.

3.  God affirms His covenant with David and promises to leave one tribe with Rehoboam.

Any idea which tribe would stay with Solomon and Rehoboam’s seed? 

Answer: Judah!

God always has a plan to keep The Seed alive, right?

Bible Reading Hints

Bible-reading gets confusing throughout Kings (and Chronicles). Here’s a tip. Israel split into two kingdoms:

-  the ten northern tribes (called “Israel” in Samaria)

-  and two southern tribes (called “Judah” in Jerusalem).

[Note: the tribe of Benjamin stays with Judah.]

The two initial kings are Jeroboam (Israel) and Rehoboam (Judah). That’s another challenge- names start to run together.

Throughout the rest of Kings, the author bounces back and forth between the accounts of kings in Judah and Israel.