King Jeroboam, the Man Who Missed the Golden Opportunity (4)

Having introduced Jeroboam in the first article and talked about his background, I continued with how he fled and how he returned in the second article, his meeting with the ten tribes leaderships and the fulfillment of the prophesies.

In this article I shall continue with how he missed the golden opportunity which the Lord has given him.

In occupying this oval seat, the Lord through his prophet spoke to the man in unmistaken terms that he needs to continue to satisfy the Lord, there are conditions he must keep on fulfilling if he wants to win his heart, if he wants God to do something spectacular for him which he only can do.

“And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.” (1 Ki 11:38)

We need to know that it is not enough to satisfy God once, for that is peculiar to many of us, having satisfied God once, at the beginning of becoming saved, afterwards we would renege in our duties to God and would be following our own ways. God does not want that. We have been married to him through salvation, and it is expected of us to keep satisfying him as lovers would continue to impress themselves daily.

The condition attached was that he should continue to do the will of God, but this man would not continue in the will of God after a while that he has ascended the throne.

Some of the reasons why he failed to continue in the will of God are:

(a) He May Have Learnt New Things While in Exile: It is possible that he has learnt new things that are strange to the laws of God while in asylum and this keeps bumping into his mind when he ascends the throne.

Many people have been influenced negatively by the new environment they migrated to, through which they have been walking contrary to the will of God,

(b) The History Read or Heard Had New Impression on His Heart: The history about the movement of Israel from Egypt to the land of Canaan would have been heard over and over again, especially the one involving the carving of golden image for the people by Aaron when prophet Moses was on the mountain talking with Yahweh. (Exo 32) But when he assumed position of authority and in a quest to maintain his dominion over the people, the history had new impression on his heart, and he decides to toe the line of Aaron to cover himself up.

(c) Fear of Future: He was enjoying the position of authority; he has now known what it is to occupy oval seat. After a while, another thought comes to his mind about the clan of David, that the people may return to King Rehoboam. The fear of the unknown based on the history of king David moved him out of the way to do what is not expected of him.

(d) He Allowed Flesh: He allowed flesh to take control of him and was not given much thought to the things and words of Yahweh again, thence, he drifted off the plan of God for him and the people of God as he leads them off Yahweh who enthrones him over his people.

“And Jeroboam said in his heart, now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:” (1 Ki 12:26)

When we allow self to dominate our lives, we shall drift off the way of the Lord.

He missed the mark by leading people into adultery, worshiping other gods that God has not commanded them to worship because of selfish ambition.

(i) Ban Going to Jerusalem to Worship: Because of self and fear of the future, he proscribe going to Jerusalem the worship center to worship.

(ii) Sent Off Levites: Because he has entertained strangers to enter his heart, he sent off people who could be instructing him in the wills and ways of the Lord from his place. (2 Chro 11:14)

(iii) Makes His Own Priests: I doubt if any King before him, neither judges have made priests for themselves before him, thus, he may have learnt this while in exile and thus, makes priests for himself who shall be leading the people in the worship of the gods. (1 Ki 12:31)

(iv) Established Worship Centers: He established worship centers for himself at the two extremes of the country. In Dan which is located on the northern side of the Northern Kingdom and Bethel in south of the kingdom. (1 Ki 12:26-30; 2 Chro 13:8)

(v) He Sets Dates of Worship: The annual, perennial, and other worship days were set by the King to get them occupied and prevent them from going to Jerusalem.

(vi) He Made Calves for People: As Aaron had did, he also made calves for the people to be worshipping. (1 Ki 12:28)

Because what he did grieved the Lord, the trust God has reposed in him has been betrayed, thence, he sent a prophet to him to rebuke him and tell him what cannot but happen to him and the nation. (1 Ki 13)

Though the name of this prophet was not stated in the bible, but some bible documentaries say the prophet’s name was Iddo. He did not receive any gratification or honorarium from the King based on the instructions of the Lord and what he said would happen happened 300 years after his prophesy. (2 Ki 23:15-16)

When God starts his vengeance, he does not stop until he has completed it. Sometimes our repentance could halt the vengeance for a while. This man never repented from his ways, and thus God allowed infirmities on his son, called Abijah. This was his devoted son as it is said that there are sone goods in him that God could see. (1 Ki 14:13) This promising child eventually died.

Some years afterwards, another King assumes the throne in the land of Judah because King Rehoboam has died. This new King the son of Rehoboam wage war against King Jeroboam and northern Kingdom after they have turned down his persuasions. With 400, 000 soldiers they conquered the northern kingdom who has 800,000 soldiers because God fought for them and he retrieved back some of the towns he had captured, and he was reduced to nothing before the king.

“And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof.

“Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.” (2 Chro 13:19-20)

Jeroboam missed the opportunity of getting for himself a name in Israel and opportunity that God has tossed to him, wanting him to prove himself that he is worth what he was asking for, but it was revealed that he has not overcome his flesh, the flesh pushed him against his God, the person who fulfills his heart desires and enthrones him.

We should strive to work on our Adamic nature as we continue in the race to the Kingdom of heaven, so that we shall not miss opportunities that God would bring along our paths in faith.