This morning I have been meditating on the life of Jeroboam, who was made King by the Lord over the 10 tribes. Here are the verses that summarize that calling and appointing - 1 Kings 11:29-31,37-39 NIV:
[29] “About that time Jeroboam was going out of Jerusalem, and Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh met him on the way, wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone out in the country, [30] and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces. [31] Then he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon’s hand and give you ten tribes.”
[37] “However, as for you, I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Israel. [38] If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you. [39] I will humble David’s descendants because of this, but not forever.’ ”
The sad thing is that Jeroboam had the Lord’s blessing and protection, and he quickly abandoned the “Word of the Lord” for logic, even though exactly what the Lord had said came to pass.
Continuing his story in 1 Kings 12, we see how quickly he abandoned the promise of God. Here are a few verses of the larger story - 1 Kings 12:20,25-30 NIV:
[20 “When all the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the house of David.”
[25] Then Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built up Peniel. [26] Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. [27] If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.”
[28] “After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” [29] One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. [30] And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.”
I find it interesting that his advisors go back to the “golden calves” which was the very sin of the people under Moses (see Exodus 32:2-4). The words he uses are almost identical.
Regardless of the parallels, we see the pattern, God blessed, fulfills the promise,and then the man doubts, that the Lord will continue to fulfill His promise, and starts thinking logically, and seeking advice from other logical thinkers. The issue is that God’s promises are not always logical, and require faith not logic to follow, and believe. God demonstrated this over and over in their past, and yet they just quickly abandon all such understanding.
This makes me think about the times I have abandoned God’s ways, for something that makes better sense to me. The way the Lord described this to me, was that I was making an Ishmael instead of trusting in God’s promise (See Gen. 15 & 16). The Lord's call will often include promises that do not seem possible, practical, or logical. We must be very careful in our thinking, and even advice seeking, to make sure that we are giving the proper place to the promise of the Lord, His word released into a situation.
I know there have been times where I really wrestled with the Promise of the Lord, and how it seemed the exact opposite was occurring. These times are surely times of testing, and are opportunities for us to press into God even more, rather than relying on our own thoughts, logic, or even advice.
Oh Lord, help us to really trust You! Help us to believe your word, knowing that in the proper time it will be perfectly fulfilled. Help us to trust not only Your word, but also Your timing! Help us to trust, to hold on, and to reject advice that says we should take matters into our own hands!
Thank You Lord for Your encouragement today!
Amen!
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