6/12 2 Chronicles 11:16

¹⁶ And those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Solomon's son, Rehoboam, reigned over the tribal areas of Judah and Benjamin. Jeroboam reigned over the northern nine tribes. The Levites were forced from their ancestral lands and moved to the southern kingdom. Along with them came people from other tribes who held to the worship of the God of Israel. They heeded the warnings from the prophets for three years.

It would have been a difficult choice to leave your kin and your land and move to the land owned by another tribe. These people that did so put God above all else. We are challenged to do the same thing today as our culture turns away from the God of our fathers. Is He more important than security and ease? That is what we must ask ourselves. Will we follow Him regardless of the cost?

Sadly, Rehoboam only worshiped the true God for three years. He then began to worship other gods and all Israel did so with him. It appears that those who left their homes in the north were following the king and not the Lord. To wake them up and turn them from their wickedness, God sent the king of Egypt against them.

Consider: We can appear to be doing the right thing but be doing it with the wrong motivation. The Lord sees our hearts. Why do you worship the Lord? Is it because others do? Is it because someone you respect does? Faith must become your own or you will be swayed by others.