Jeroboams End
(1 kings 14:1ampsim20)
Jeroboams end was like that of worldly people. He regarded his success as something he had achieved on his own. He paid no attention to others regarding his achievement as eternal even though it was fleeting. Thats why God showed him the man of God, killed by a lion because of his one mistake of yielding to a temptation. Nevertheless, Jeroboam wasnt moved at all. Thus he brought Gods judgment on his household. What then did he bring on himself and his household?
1. He brought on his sons sickness. God sent a man of God to Jeroboam to show him how big a sin he had committed by appointing priests from the non-Levites. Jeroboams sin was not merely a moral sin he took advantage of God for his own interest by letting ordinary people perform sacred rituals for his own profit. Thats how Jeroboam caused his son Abijah to become sick as part of the prophesy that God would destroy his household because of his deeds. God sent Jeroboam the disaster of his sons sickness because of his spiritual deafness despite his hand being withered, Thus Abijah, an innocent godly boy, got an incurable disease. His sickness was Gods sign urging Jeroboam to repent. However, Jeroboam didnt repent. Instead he tried to deceive a prophet. He wanted his son to be cured and at the same time to keep his regime. So he sent his wife in disguise to the prophet. Even though he chased a prophecy regarding his sons recovery, he never considered seeking the Word as his life instruction to follow. Thus he was living a desolate life, caught by the delusion that everyone might betray and kill him. Confessing our sins and revealing our shame are actually a decent and gracious way of life. But thats far beyond the reach of Jeroboams values. Jeroboam thought that it would be easy to deceive the prophet Ahijah thanks to his bad eye sight. He thought that disguising his wife was really a good idea. So ignorant of God was he and are we! Ahijah was an old man physically, yet a new person spiritually. Meanwhile Jeroboam was physically strong, yet spiritually old and infirm, unable to hear Gods voice.
2. He brought on a series of ominous prophecies. God instructed Ahijah what he should say to Jeroboam wife. Jeroboam tried to deceive Ahijah, yet he couldnt deceive God. Ahijah means Jehovahs brother. Actually, he was a spokesman of God. He succeeded Nathan who acted in the early age of King Solomon, as a faithful prophet who greatly influenced Israel with his ominous prophecy. Lets look at his prophecy. Despite Gods constant goodness, Jeroboam thrust God behind his back. God decided to bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam and cut off from him every last male till he had no successor. It was Gods judgment on Jeroboams betrayal. The prophecy was that Jeroboams son would die and his household would be destroyed, followed by the fall of Israel. Still, however, unbelievers in the world are chasing Jeroboams kingdom. Without repentance, they all will be destroyed and swept away by God. When we chase money, health, and sex, we will be destroyed by them. Without God, we will be driven to hell because of the very idols that we chase. All the ominous things that happened were caused by Jeroboams sins. Sin drives us deeper and deeper into depravity with its infectious and dominating power. So overlooking someones sin is like incubating it in the person. God didnt want Israel to be infected by Jeroboams sins. So God let Abjiah, his son pass away. God gave Jeroboam his last opportunity to repent, yet Jeroboam didnt repent. Even though Jeroboam mourned over his sons death, he didnt repent. All he did before his son died was to disguise his wife. He didnt cry out despite his desperate situation. Thats why his problem was unsolved. He was just seeking solutions for his sons recovery without repentance, the true solution!
3. Nevertheless, he had a remnant of his household. God left only one remnant out of Jeroboams whole household, who died of an incurable disease and was buried. God saved Abijah because he was the only one in Jeroboams household in whom God found anything good. What would it be? A good son might well be sick under his evil father, finding that he had nothing and deploring his helpless father. Abijahs lamentation was the good thing that God noticed! The Lord notices our one small application, visits us, and makes us a remnant of salvation. Thus God sets aside one remnant even in the mist of his predestined judgment. The only one who will dwell in Gods presence out of Jeroboams house is Abijah, who died of sickness. To Abijah, sickness was a blessing of becoming a remnant of redemption history. Jeroboam reigned for twenty-two years, living his sinful life till the end. God placed him as a restraint device against Solomon and Rehoboam. Yet he overstepped his role. Man is by nature a sinner. No one defeats sinful circumstances. Thus Jeroboam wrapped up his life. Both the man of God and Abijah died young, yet became early inhabitants of the heavenly kingdom. Truly it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Repentance makes total difference. Abijahs sickness was caused by Jeroboam. Theres no problem child, but problem parents. Hearing the bad news weve brought on ourselves is a blessing. May God bless us all to listen to the Word and become a remnant of salvation!
He reigned for twenty-two years and then rested with his fathers. And Nadab his son succeeded him as king. (1kgs 14:20)
