Ignoring The Warnings

Some of God’s commands relate to things which are inherently wrong, such as murder, rape, adultery, theft, etc.  Others were designed to prevent various problems, whether health related, or business related, and dealt with actions that were not inherently wrong in themselves.  For example, it was not inherently wrong for Solomon to have horses or chariots.  The problem came when they began to depend on the chariots and horses and theire alliance with Egypt to protect them instead of trusting God. 

Just as a parent may overlook minor because the effect is minimal, God often overlooks minor disobedience by his children.  If the disobedience become a problem however, he will intervene.  Solomon’s marriages had led to his turning away from God and worshipping idols, as well as encouraging others to commit idolatry.  The effects were so serious the disobedience could no longer be overlooked.  God began to use other people to get Solomon’s attention.  The first was the descendant of the Edomites David had defeated, as we see in I Kings 11:14-22.  “And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.  For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom; (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)  That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child.  And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.

And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.  And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh.  And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.

Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.”  Once he learned David and Joab were both dead, Hadad returned to Edom and began rebuilding.  When they became strong enough, they began to raid Israel from the south. 

David had defeated the Syrians and made a treaty with them, as well.  One of the Syrians, Rezin had rebelled against the king of Zabah, and seized Damascus, regularly violating the treaty with Israel, as I Kings 11:23-25 describes.  “And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah: And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.  And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.”

When Solomon began his reign, David had made treaties with all his enemies and no one caused him any trouble.  Later, as he became more concerned with his own prestige and power and neglectd God, Hadad and Rezin began causing unrest along the borders in an attempt by God to get Solomon’s attention.  Focused on himself, Solomon did not take the raids seriously, but continued to move further from God and his commands. 

God nearly always gives warnings when things are not right, but unfortunately, just like a child ignoring his parent’s warnings, most people are wrapped up in what they are doing and ignore the warnings.   Few are like David, willing to acknowledge they are wrong and change their behavior.