The Bible recorded Jeroboam’s story in 1 Kings 11 and 12 majorly, but his name kept on being mentioned anytime Israel sinned against God after that. He was the son of one of Solomon’s servant, Nebat. He also became one of Solomon’s trusted hands. Verse 28 of 1 Kings 11 said about him: “And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.”
He was just a servant of Solomon and that was it. He never knew he could become a ruler in Israel. A time came however, when Solomon, the man that God loved, decided to commit the sin that God had warned him several times not to commit. He abandoned God and was running after other gods. He loved strange women and those women turned his heart away from God (1 Kings 11:1-8) and God’s judgement came on him (1 Kings 11:9-13) – (Take time to read this yourself).
God told him He would take the kingdom away from him and give it to his servant, but that He would not take everything, He would give ten tribes to his servant, and give just one tribe to his son. You would think that this horrible judgmental statement from God would make him to quickly repent of his sins and come back to God, but he didn’t.
Soon after that, God sent prophet Ahijah to inform Jeroboam that He would rend his master’s kingdom from his master, give him ten tribes and give his master’s son just one (I Kings 11:26-39). The prophet tore his beautiful new garment he was wearing to twelve pieces, gave him ten pieces as a sign, and told him what God said (I Kings 11:31-32). That was how he got the promise to become a leader without sweat and without working for it and God specifically told him that if he would serve him faithfully, He will be with him and build him a sure house (I Kings 11:38). You will think that a man in his right senses will obey the God who told him that, to the letter; but the reverse was the case. (I kings 11:25-33.)
Jeroboam’s Sins
- He did not trust God to fulfill His promises to him.
- The devil dropped a thought in his heart concerning how people still go to the temple in Jerusalem for special feasts and celebrations. He thought since Jerusalem was located in Judah, the Israelites’ hearts might be turned against him. This may even be regarded as a legitimate concern but he would have taken it to the Lord in prayer, but he didn’t. Instead, he shared it with those around him (many leaders are always surrounded by sycophants). He took counsel from them, and based on this, he set up new places of worship and placed golden calves there as object to represent God. He flagrantly violated God’s law by making the molten image. In other to sustain what God gave him free of charge, he used his human wisdom to want to keep himself in power.
- He chose his own priests his own way, not following the laid down precepts of God to choose priests from the sons of Levi.
- He made Israel to sin against God and God was angry with him and his house forever.
Lessons from the story
- Don’t help God. If God says He will do something for you, He knows how to carry it through without your help. Jeroboam became king based on God’s choice. He didn’t lobby for the position. God sent a prophet to tell him ahead of time, and when the time came, the people invited him to be their king. Having realised that God took him to the throne, he would have trusted God to keep him there, as long as he is doing God’s will.
- If God has given you something free of charge, why not trust Him to keep that thing for you? Has God given you a position in your office? In your church? In the community? In your school? Trust God to sustain it for you. Don’t because of fear, begin to look for power where there is no power, to consolidate your position.
- Leaders should pray that the right people should surround them. If, when he shared his thoughts with those around him, they told him not to do that, it is possible he might have taken their counsel. Remember when Naaman (II Kings 5) was wrought with Elisha’s instructions, it was his servants around him that advised him to obey Elisha. Though he was a might army general, he listened to them and was healed. May God surround us with the right kind of people in any position we find ourselves in Jesus’ name.
- Never, never, make the people of God to sin against God because you want to entrench yourself in whatever position God has placed you free of charge. By the action of Jeroboam, he became a reference point for evil even long after he had died. He left a bad legacy of being a leader who influenced his followers negatively. We must be careful of the kind of legacy we will leave behind. May we never become bad reference point in Jesus’ name.
- Jeroboam had opportunity to retrace his steps and correct his ways but he did not. God sent the young prophet to him while he was offering sacrifice in the temple he made. Instead of repenting, he stretched his hand forth to order for the arrest of the young prophet, but the hand withered. He pleaded for healing and he was healed immediately, and his hand was restored back to him. With this encounter, he ought to have retraced his steps and order for the abolition of idol worship in Israel, but he didn’t. May God help us to repent anytime we are confronted with our errors, in Jesus’ name.
- Lead the people of God to love God and make sure you love God yourself.
- Serve God with everything you have, according to His laid down precepts and whatever position He has given you, will be sustained by Him, and nobody will be able to bring you down.
God bless you as you continue to meditate on His word. Find time to read 1 Kings 11 and 12.
Shalom!