I King 11 tells the story of how Jeroboam came into power, so if you are interested take time to read it. 2 Chronicle 10 Jeroboam came into power. Power because the yoke of Solomon son Rehoboam was heavy and instead of listening to his father or the elders of the land he inflicted harder labor. No one argues work must be done or that there is a yoke of burden of work to be done no matter who you are. Yet how the king treats people weights on the heart of the people, and if enough are angry then a revolt will happen. Jeroboam would lead the people out of Jerusalem, and leave two tribes of Israel under the control of Rehoboam, a man not after God's own heart but service the idols. Jeroboam was told by God that if he would obey him that he would rule Israel and would take the kingdom right out of heirs of David's hands and only a remnant would left for David sake.

What is a yoke but a collar, a harness, and restraint to bend the knee to a ruler or leader. The question might be why would God leave Idolatry's in Jerusalem, why would he leave corruption in the land where is Son would be born. The only way to free a people of idolatry, evil, is to show them the opposition of God's way, and sometime people in opposition still choose not God's way. Christ yoke as king is not meant to be harsh or heavy yoke. Our faith should not be a yoke of bondage but the yoke of faith should bring rest to one's soul. Jesus yoke is not about well doing but simply belief in who God is as Creator and Lord, who Christ is as Son/his word and his work on the cross, and not least but faith in the Holy Spirit who changes not from being who he is from Old To New Testament and third person of the Trinity, a person that warns, enables and instructs in the direction one should go, so the burden of this world is light and not heavy. Cain found a heavy yoke when he did not obey the Holy Spirit of God. Noah found safety by God's Spirit as the Lord shut the ark doors. We can not imagine the danger that may await us if we obey not God, nor do we know the danger that will follow us by obeying, for Christ himself went to the cross with the burden of the sins of the world on his shoulders, yet the outcome for Jesus was resurrection from the dead and to sit again in the heavenlies with his Father. Paul went through towns and was stone and beaten by following after the Spirit of God. Paul consider himself a slave to Christ. Yet Paul own slavery was his choice as will as to follow the call of God on his life to share the Gospel. For Paul to had once been a persecutor of the christians and felt worthy of the call to face whatever God would have him face for the sake of the Gospel, not always avoiding the pain or suffering of sharing truth.

If the yoke of Christ is to bring us rest to our soul, it is to put away the fear of not doing right, but living by the yoke of faith love and hope. Loving God first and others second. The burden of faith in Christ is a light yoke, because it to bring peace to our soul, knowing it not by our actions that we achieve salvation but faith in Christ. If the only yoke of the king Rehoboam had been that he was ruler and to obey the command laws of the land the burden of his rule would not of been to please the king and worship of idols. Rehobaom desire to be a king of power only to loose ten tribes in the process, not recognizing the power of Israel to rise up against him.

God's yoke never changes, but kingdoms and government yoke of bondage does change in our lives. Most who watch Republicans and Democrates come into power know the burden both powers have to put on the economic structure of the American nation. Yet we also no the lighteness of the load depending on who is in power and when there been time of struggle more then relief. All these things has to do with who is in power by who controls what type of trade items. It should not be and should never be influence in our government but it does effect us. The point being God's yoke is light it not a financial burden or a yoke of bondage it is a yoke of faith, a faith that never changes who God is or his power around us to deliver, to enable, to change and shape our lives to strengthen our faith. Jesus takes away the burden of our sin and throws it in the sea of forgetfulness when we believe and confess our sins, for he just to forgive us of our sin and to take us as we are, as we yield to him, to grow in faith and hope. Our sin no longer a task master to do good but faith being the task master to do good, for Christ paid the penalty for sin.

The game of i caught you, so if you do this for me i won't tell your parents, is a game children often play to keep out of trouble only to land up telling on themselves to keep the burden or yoke of their friend off of them. When we confess our sins to God, he purges them from our life so that we sin not against Him and others. He cleanses us through His Son's death and raises us up to have a new beginning in Christ, for our sins washed from us and are forgotten and we have a chance to change and mend our ways, no longer living to try to overcome sin, but sin being over come by the burial with Christ death and his resurrection to a new life with HIm. All because God loves us and sent His only begotton Son that whosoever believeth him would have eternal life, if they would only believe. Our sin no longer separating us from God, for Christ has paid it all upon belief and repentance(turning from sin).

Dear Heavenly Father has we look to Jesus as our salvation, we trust in your word that we only have to believe and to confess our sins you are faithful to forgive us our sin and give us a new hope through obeying you and your word. Remind us your burden in our life is light and your yoke is easy to bear. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.