What happens when leaders abuse their power? - Power - TouchPoints

1 Kings 12:6-11, 16Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. “What is your advice?” he asked. “How should I answer these people?” The older counselors replied, “If you are willing to be a servant to these people today and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.” But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers. “What is your advice?” he asked them. “How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?” The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’” . . . When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded, “Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse. Back to your homes, O Israel! Look out for your own house, O David!” So the people of Israel returned home.

Jeremiah 23:10The land is full of adultery, and it lies under a curse. The land itself is in mourning—its wilderness pastures are dried up. For they all do evil and abuse what power they have.

Abusing power leads to abusing people, which then leads to conflict and even open rebellion. God works in all these situations and sometimes intervenes directly. For example, Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, desired to show power and rejected the advice of wise men. The result was a civil war from which Israel never recovered. Later on, much of the social structure was permeated with sin, from the leaders on down, and God sent the people into exile from their land.