09. JEROBOAM
JEROBOAM
"The man Jeroboam was strong and valiant; and Solomon saw the young man that he was industrious, and he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.Thus sayeth Jehovah the God of Israel.I will take thee, that thou mayest reign over all that thy soul desireth, and thou shalt be king over Israel."
1Ki 11:28; 1Ki 11:31; 1Ki 11:37
Jeroboam, the first king of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel, was the son of a widow and a promising young man. From the human standpoint he had everything going for him. When Solomon was busy fortifying Jerusalem he noticed Jeroboam’s industrious ways and promoted him to be in charge of the work crews from Ephraim and Manasseh. But we see that the king was not alone in taking note of this young man. God also took note of his industry and ambition. God’s eye is upon the ways of man and, more than that, He knows the thoughts and desires of every man’s heart.
God sent the prophet Ahijah to announce to Jeroboam that because of His people’s unfaithfulness under Solomon, He would rend the kingdom out of Solomon’s son’s hand and make Jeroboam king over ten tribes. Yet because of His promises to David He would not entirely take the kingdom from David’s family nor do this during Solomon’s lifetime. While God is ever faithful to His word, He is never in a hurry to execute His righteous judgments.
Jeroboam’s industriousness was commendable, but God looks for more than merely commendable human character traits. He looks at the heart and wants hearts wholly committed to Him. Thus He told Jeroboam, "If thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in My ways, and do that which is right in My sight, in keeping My statutes and My commandments, as David My servant did, that I will be with thee, and build thee a lasting house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee" (v. 38).
"Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David. If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem.they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah. And the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold."
God who searches the hearts and who is the heart-knowing God here reveals the inner workings of Jeroboam’s heart. Jeroboam did not trust God, the goodness of God, and God’s word to him with all his heart. Instead, he made the mistake of leaning on his own intelligence. Scripture tells us that "he who trusts in his own heart is a fool" (Pro 28:26 NASB).
Satan implanted doubt in God’s goodness in our first parents and quickly convinced them that what he was suggesting was far better for them. Ever since then, man has sought his own advantage. He shortsightedly trusts his own heart and leans on his own understanding. He seeks counsel from other men who think just like he does. He either ignores God or deceives himself into feeling he can get away with disobeying God. Because God is "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy unto thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin," man conveniently forgets that God is also a God "by no means clearing the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation" (Exo 34:6-7).
Jeroboam instituted his own religion. It became the downfall of every king that succeeded him in Israel. He made two gold calves, built high places, made non-levitical priests, and ordained a feast "like the feast that was in Judah." Beware of changing, even of modifying the instructions God has given us in His Word!
"It is the man of God who was disobedient to the word of Jehovah; therefore Jehovah has delivered him to the lion, which has torn him and slain him, according to the word of Jehovah."
"It is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?"
1Pe 4:17 NASB
Jeroboam, like Cain, had instituted his own religion, a religion "he had devised of his own heart." As he was burning incense on the altar he had made in Bethel, the "house of God," a man of God from Judah cried against this altar by the word of Jehovah, predicting the ultimate doom of Jeroboam’s system of worship. When he attempted to arrest this man of God, Jeroboam found himself powerless to harm him. His folly became openly evident.
However, God had given his servant explicit instructions how he was to conduct himself while in Jeroboam’s domain. The man of God conscientiously declined the king’s offer of refreshment and reward. But en route back to his home he sat down to rest and an old prophet persuaded him to come home with him and eat bread. Lying to the man of God, he told him that an angel had told him to do this. No angel of God has authority to change what God has said. Any contradiction or attempt to update what God has said is a grave offense against our unchanging God who cannot lie. A lion soon killed the man of God in most extraordinary manner.
God looks for His servants to be examples of obedience to His Word. Before bringing judgment upon Jeroboam’s unfaithfulness He dealt in judgment with the disobedience of the servant whom He had used to pronounce this judgment. May we never forget how solemn a responsibility it is to represent God in this world!
"At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam was sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise.and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and go to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, who told me that I should be king over this people.he will tell thee what shall become of the lad."
1Ki 14:1-3 A lthough Jeroboam had instituted a religion of his own invention for his people, it is evident that he had no real confidence in it himself. When his stretched-out hand had been dried up he had asked the man of God from Judah to pray to "Jehovah thy God" that his hand might be restored to its normal use. Here too, when his son Abijah was sick, he sent his wife to the aged, now blind prophet Ahijah to find out what would become of him. His own religion might be useful for his political goals, but not when his body’s functioning or his son’s life was at stake! This same principle holds true of all religions that men have invented.
Yet there was no repentance with Jeroboam. He would maintain his deceitful front. His wife was to disguise herself and go with presents to inquire of the old prophet Ahijah. Neither the blind prophet nor the people were to know her errand. But God knew and gave Ahijah clear instructions what would happen and what to do. The Lord had found something good toward Himself in this boy. He took him home to Himself before the day of judgment burst upon the rest of the house of Jeroboam. This boy was the only member of Jeroboam’s family to receive a proper burial and have Israel mourning his death. In His wrath against the ten-tribe kingdom God nonetheless remembered mercy with regard to this boy. "The righteous is taken away from before the evil" (Isa 57:1). Yet how heavy his mother’s burden must have been! For as soon as her feet entered the city her son died. God ever keeps His Word.