Conspiracy: A Biblical View, by Gary North - EntreWave

TWO KINDS OF CONSPIRACY, by Gary NorthTWO KINDS OF CONSPIRACYAnd it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established thekingdom, and had strengthened himself he forsook thelaw of the Lord, and all Israel with him. And it came topass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak kingof Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they hadtransgressed against the Lord (H Chronicles 12:1-2).Rehoboam is not a familiar name in Bible history. He was Solomon'sson, and he inherited the kingdom of Israel at its high point: morewealth, influence, and power than it was ever to experience again.Early in his reign, the people came before him and asked that hereduce their taxes. For three days he consulted with his counsellors.The older counsellors agreed with the people, but not the youngerones. Rehoboam sided with the younger ones. He came before therepresentatives of the tribes and promised to hike taxes. "My fatherhath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions"(I Kings 12:12). Within weeks, the rebel leader Jeroboam led tentribes out of the old kingdom and established a new nation, Israel (thenorthern kingdom), leaving Rehoboam to strut over and threaten onlytwo tribes, Judah and Benjamin (the southern kingdom). Rehoboam'sconspiracy against the people caused a civil war and had split thekingdom permanently.Rehoboam learned slowly. First he had conspired against the peopleof Israel. Next, he rebelled against God. He took his much-reducedkingdom into ethical war against God — the old error of conspiratorsthroughout history, both human and angelic. Then Shishak of Egyptprepared to invade. The original slave-holding tyranny threatenedagain. This time, Rehoboam repented, along with the princes (IIChronicles 12:6). God then repented in part, but He brought Shishakin for a raid. God gave them "some deliverance" (II Chronicles 12:7).This was Israel's recurring lesson, which the people never reallylearned. Conspire against the law of God, and you thereby conspireagainst God. God then brings in full judgment: invasion. Again andhttp://freebooks.commentary.net/freebooks/docs/html/gnco/html/4.htm (1 of 11) [5/26/2000 1:48:09 PM]