"(For He was yet in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon,
and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt, and they sent and called him;)" 1 Kings 12:2
THE time when the world is most to be feared is when it is friendly to the Church. It is a sad comment on King Solomon, who began his reign so inspiringly, that he should become the pioneer of the inveterate tendency of the kingdom of Israel to seek aid and comfort from Egypt, the former land of their captivity.
SOLOMON had many wives, but the most favoured of them was undoubtedly Pharaoh's daughter, and it seems that this was not so much due to affection as to political expediency. The matter is introduced to us by the statement that "Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter ..." (1 Kings 3:1).
WHAT is more, Solomon deliberately disobeyed God's command that he must not go down into Egypt to buy horses (Deuteronomy 17:16). He amassed a large army of horses and chariots (2 Chronicles 1:14) and although they may not all have come from Egypt, that is the only country of origin which is actually specified (2 Chronicles 9:28). It is easy to read those glowing accounts of Solomon's prosperity without observing this part played by Egypt. We must be careful not to imagine that God had really not meant what He said when He prohibited recourse to Egypt in this way. So far as obedience and disobedience are concerned, God has no favourites.
IT must have seemed to Solomon, as it sometimes does to us, that it is quite a good thing for God's kingdom to imitate the world and even to make use of its friendship, but this parenthesis about Jeroboam helps to correct such a false assumption, for it was Egypt which gave shelter and succour to this man who was destined to split Israel asunder.
IN the sovereignty of God, Jeroboam was the human instrument for alienating the ten tribes from Judah. He served God's purposes but he soon became notorious as the man who caused Israel to sin. His name and his activities are constantly referred to in connection with God's anger against the Northern kingdom and His judgment upon it.
AND where did he come from? Where was it that Jeroboam was preserved safe until he could come and raise rebellion against Solomon's son? From the very land with which Solomon had cultivated friendly relations -- Egypt. We later read how hordes of those chariots came up from Egypt to harrass and plunder the remaining kingdom of Judah (2 Chronicles 12:3).
WHAT had become of Solomon's alliance with Pharaoh, and his brisk trade with the Egyptians? Nothing but disaster. And what can happen when God's people forget that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Surely this parenthesis makes the lesson plain for us all to read.
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