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2nd Chronicles Chapter 12 talks about the reign of Rehoboam. In verse 13 it notes that his mother was an Ammonite. Often times the Bible makes an unelaborated comment and says something that maybe we tend to gloss over. Kings usually had many wives, and those wives weren’t always from Israel. Her name, Namaa, means beautiful or good looking. I’m sure she was typical of what kings chose for their wives. Just like men today, most times they look at the package and not the contents. These wives had children and just like today, women have much to say about what her children learn and believe. She molded Rehoboam into the man he would become.
The Ammonites god was Milcom or Molech. Child and or human sacrifice is to this day attributed to Molech. Child mortality was high so the sacrifice of a child would be the ultimate thing you could give to your god. Unlike abortion today which is done for the pleasure of the woman, back then it was for the pleasure of their god. It would stand to reason that she was devoted to her god and passed on these twisted views to her children.
The text notes that Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jeruselum, the city which God chose for His own. His failed leadership can be traced to this one thing. He built himself up and didn’t humble himself and wait for God to raise him up. This arrogance led to verse 14 where we find that he did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord. Greatness comes from seeking God and not from seeking personal success. I guess we all know that but speaking for myself, a good share of my life has been spent believing that if it’s going to be, it’s up to me.
I’m at the threshold of my seventies; I’m leaving all the rest up to God.