Daily Devotional

“Now it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, they sent for him and called him to the congregation and made him king over all Israel. There was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only” (1 Kings 12:20). 

You could say—with some justification—that the establishment of the first Jeroboam as king of the northern tribes of Israel had to do with taxes. Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, promised to tax these people far more severely than his father did, and Jeroboam, returning from exile in Egypt, was made king as a result. 

But as often happens, what might seem to be a politically savvy move can end in disaster. Jeroboam was, perhaps, too smart for his own good: Fearing the Israelites would switch their allegiance when visiting Rehoboam’s Jerusalem for the annual feasts, he built temples of his own, in which a statue of a golden calf was erected for worship. Never mind that the Israelites’ ancestors got in big trouble for doing just that in the desert after leaving Egypt, Jeroboam wanted to cement loyalty at any cost. 

It wasn’t to last. God prophesied to Jeroboam that another king, Josiah, would tear down the altars. Jeroboam protested, but his hand withered on the spot and the altar split in two and its ashes were scattered. God restored Jeroboam’s hand, but the miracle wasn’t enough to change the direction of his life. Jeroboam faced further conflict and died an unhappy, unfulfilled king. 

Oh, and that king Josiah? He came along 300 years later, just as the prophet said. Once again, we see that God isn’t kidding when He says something will happen. That certainty may be the only comfort we can take from this story of rebellion. 

Father in heaven, keep the certainty of Your word before me, and keep my heart turned toward You!