Dynasty, Doubt, and Destruction

Dynasty, Doubt, and Destruction

“Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:16 NIV

God made this promise to David.

But did you know God made a very similar promise to Jeroboam?

David’s son, Solomon, followed other gods as his wives turned his heart from Yahweh (1 Kings 11:27-39). Jeroboam served Solomon as one of his officials. God planned to split the kingdom and sent the prophet Ahijah to Jeroboam. Ahijah ripped his cloak into twelve pieces. He offered ten tribes to Jeroboam but reserved Judah for Solomon’s son, Rehoboam.

We’ll pick it up in 1 Kings 11:37-39:

However, as for you, I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Israel. 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. I will humble David’s descendants because of this, but not forever.

Folks, that’s no chicken feed.

But the ten pieces of cloak in Jeroboam’s hand wasn’t enough. Fear lingered in his mouth like a bad aftertaste and Jeroboam wavered. All Israel traveled back to Jerusalem for the feasts: Passover, Trumpets, and others. Jeroboam feared the tribes would follow Rehoboam again and he would be killed. (1 Kings 12:26-27)

Jeroboam had options: figure it out or take his concerns to God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” 

Jeroboam needed to read it. Instead, he made two golden calves. (Sound familiar? This won’t end well.) The smelting fumes must have been incense to Satan’s nose. Jeroboam placed one in Dan and one in Bethel so the people would no longer travel to Jerusalem.

God sent a prophet, but his warning went unheeded—which brings us to this verse:

“And this event became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to blot it out and destroy it from off the face of the earth.” 1 Kings 13:34 

Jeroboam’s sin of idolatry rippled through Israel until the exile. Not one king of Israel followed God during the divided kingdom era.

Not one.

Do you have a pet sin? One that began when you relied on your own understanding instead of trusting what God said? God will deal with our doubts, but we must take them to Him.

Don’t trade a dynasty promise for total destruction. Click To Tweet

Workout of the Week: Dynasty, Doubt, and Destruction

Memory Verse: “And this event became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to blot it out and destroy it from off the face of the earth.” 1 Kings 13:34 NIV

Meditation Passage: 1 Kings 11:29-39

Just Do It: Bring your doubt to God.

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