Turn To God Before It is too Late!
At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became ill, and Jeroboam said to his wife, "Go, disguise yourself, so you won't be recognized as the wife of Jeroboam. Then go to Shiloh. Ahijah the prophet is there -- the one who told me I would be king over this people. Take ten loaves of bread with you, some cakes and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy."
. . . Now Ahijah could not see; his sight was gone because of his age. But the LORD had told Ahijah, "Jeroboam's wife is coming to ask about her son, for he is ill, and you are to give her such and such an answer. When she arrives, she will pretend to be someone else." So when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps at the door, he said, "Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why this pretense? I have been sent to you with bad news. Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I raised you up from among the people and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commands and followed me with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes.
You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods . . . you have aroused my anger and turned your back on me. . . . I will burn up the house of Jeroboam as one burns dung, until it is all gone. Dogs will eat those belonging to Jeroboam who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country. The LORD has spoken! . . . When you set foot in your city, the boy will die."
I Kings 14:1-12
. . . Now Ahijah could not see; his sight was gone because of his age. But the LORD had told Ahijah, "Jeroboam's wife is coming to ask about her son, for he is ill, and you are to give her such and such an answer. When she arrives, she will pretend to be someone else." So when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps at the door, he said, "Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why this pretense? I have been sent to you with bad news. Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I raised you up from among the people and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commands and followed me with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes.
You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods . . . you have aroused my anger and turned your back on me. . . . I will burn up the house of Jeroboam as one burns dung, until it is all gone. Dogs will eat those belonging to Jeroboam who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country. The LORD has spoken! . . . When you set foot in your city, the boy will die."
I Kings 14:1-12
Jeroboam received a prophecy from Ahijah in a very dramatic fashion that he would become king of Israel. Ahijah was sent by God to meet Jeroboam on the road. The prophet was wearing a new piece of cloak. He dramatically tore up the robe into twelve pieces and gave ten to Jeroboam, assuring him that God was going to give him ten tribes of the nation of Israel to rule over. The startling nature of the announcement was definitely unforgettable. But God required of him unqualified allegiance: If Jeroboam remained faithful to God, his dynasty would be secure.
Unfortunately, Jeroboam turned his back on God and became worse of an idol worshipper than any king before him. He led the entire nation of Israel away from the God who redeemed them from slavery and gave them the Promised Land. He instituted his own religious rules and appointed his own priests all in a bid to secure his rulership and entrench himself in power.
Even when God spared him and healed him, he did not repent. He remained insolent in his idolatry. He did not care about the Almighty God. Interestingly, however, when his son got sick, he resorted to all kinds of disguise and treachery to hear an answer from God.
But God is not to be mocked. We can never disguise ourselves in His presence. We can never hide from God. The Bible declares that everything is an open book before God to whom we must give an account (Hebrews 4:13).
It is simply amazing how we can refuse to acknowledge God when we feel prosperous and in control, but how sober we can become and appeal to Him when we are down and out and judgment is upon us. We can't hide from God. We will always run into Him at the end of our journey. Let's seek Him with all our heart before it is too late. He is always willing to receive us.
Unfortunately, Jeroboam turned his back on God and became worse of an idol worshipper than any king before him. He led the entire nation of Israel away from the God who redeemed them from slavery and gave them the Promised Land. He instituted his own religious rules and appointed his own priests all in a bid to secure his rulership and entrench himself in power.
Even when God spared him and healed him, he did not repent. He remained insolent in his idolatry. He did not care about the Almighty God. Interestingly, however, when his son got sick, he resorted to all kinds of disguise and treachery to hear an answer from God.
But God is not to be mocked. We can never disguise ourselves in His presence. We can never hide from God. The Bible declares that everything is an open book before God to whom we must give an account (Hebrews 4:13).
It is simply amazing how we can refuse to acknowledge God when we feel prosperous and in control, but how sober we can become and appeal to Him when we are down and out and judgment is upon us. We can't hide from God. We will always run into Him at the end of our journey. Let's seek Him with all our heart before it is too late. He is always willing to receive us.
Prayer: Lord, I am grateful for the privilege to be your child. Please help me to remain an open book before you. Help me not to reject you but to always depend on you and not seek you only when things have fallen apart. Amen.