2 Chronicles 10:4
“Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.”
Everything has a pattern or mold that is used to replicate what was originally produced. When I was a young boy, I remember taking a mold that made plaster ornaments and pouring the ingredients into it. It was important that we took care of those molds because they were the pattern by which we made the ornaments we desired. If we broke the mold, we no longer were able to replicate what we wanted.
In the verse above, Israel wanted to break the mold. Rehoboam had just taken the throne after Solomon passed away, and the people came to him and asked him to “…ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us…” They said that Solomon made their yoke “grievous.” What is interesting to me is that in the previous chapter it was said about them from the Queen of Sheba, “Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.” Something doesn't seem to be right. When an outsider came and saw that they were happy under Solomon, I would think their perception of the past was wrong. They unfortunately forgot that Solomon’s method of ruling produced happiness.
What was really going on with these people? In looking back they thought the hardness wasn’t that important. They were trying to break a mold and wanted to use a new mold, but the old mold is what made them happy and who they were. Sadly, they broke the mold and turned from God’s ways which resulted in the demise of their nation.
Friend, history never changes. Every generation fights the same battles that the previous generation fought, it’s just that the characters that are different. There are those in every generation who criticize the mold of the previous generation, but what they don't take into consideration is that the mold is what made them who they are. You can complain about the mold and try to change things, but when you break the mold you also lose the happiness that comes with it.
Let me encourage you not to forsake the mold that God has given us in His Word. You may think that your parents were too hard on you, but that hardness is what helped mold your successful life. If you change the mold with your children and try to make things easier with less discipline, you will find that the new mold will bring headaches and heartache. Your parent’s standard on how to live with rules, discipline, sacrifice and commitment to the LORD is what gave you the character and discipline that has made you successful in this life. Don't listen to those who say that you were not happy, but look at what you became.
Moreover, be careful that you don't accept the new molds being offered in Christianity. There are many who say the standards of holiness of the previous generation and the pressure they put on us to produce for the LORD were unnecessary, but these things gave us the great results in our ministries, families and lives. The Devil will always try to persuade you that you weren't happy back then, but I admonish you not to listen to his lies. If you will keep the mold of God’s Word, you will keep the blessings and happiness that it brings. Don't break the mold!