Meet the Kings | Truth in Bloom Series
Scripture Focus:
1 Kings 11:26–14:20 | 2 Chronicles 10:1–19
Reign: 931–910 BC (22 years, Northern Kingdom of Israel)
Who Was Jeroboam I?
Jeroboam was never meant to be king — and yet, God gave him the opportunity.
He was a servant under King Solomon, recognized for his leadership and industriousness. The prophet Ahijah approached him with a dramatic act: tearing a cloak into twelve pieces and giving Jeroboam ten of them — a sign that God was handing him rule over the ten northern tribes of Israel. It was a moment of divine calling.
But Jeroboam didn’t rise in gratitude. He rose in fear.
When Solomon died and Rehoboam ignored wise counsel, the ten northern tribes rebelled and made Jeroboam their king. This was the start of the divided kingdom — Judah in the south under David’s line, and Israel in the north under Jeroboam.
Rather than lead the people back to God, Jeroboam led them away. Fearing that traveling to Jerusalem to worship might turn their hearts back to Rehoboam, Jeroboam built two golden calves and placed them in Bethel and Dan. He set up his own priesthood. His own festivals. His own altars. He created a counterfeit religion that would plague Israel for generations.
The phrase “he followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat” became a tragic refrain repeated over and over throughout the history of the northern kings. His legacy was not just one of rebellion — it was of misleading others.
Key Themes to Reflect On
1. God May Call, But We Must Still Obey
Jeroboam’s kingdom came by God’s decree — but the blessing was conditional.
“If you do whatever I command you… I will build you a dynasty as enduring as David’s.” (1 Kings 11:38)
- Reflection: Am I holding tightly to God’s promises while neglecting His commands?
2. Fear Can Drive Us to Create Counterfeits
Jeroboam feared losing his people, so he created his own system of worship. It was convenient, popular — and disobedient.
- Reflection: Are there places in my life where I’ve settled for a version of faith that’s easier but not truer?
3. Our Influence Outlives Us
Jeroboam’s name lived on — not in honor, but as a warning. His choices set the tone for the entire northern kingdom’s decline.
- Reflection: What kind of spiritual influence am I leaving behind? Am I pointing others toward truth or away from it?
Scriptures Worth Sitting With
- 1 Kings 11:29–38 – God’s promise and calling through the prophet Ahijah
- 1 Kings 12:26–30 – Jeroboam’s fear and creation of false worship
- 1 Kings 13 – The prophet’s warning and Jeroboam’s resistance
- 1 Kings 14:7–11 – God’s judgment on Jeroboam’s house
What We Often Miss
- Jeroboam had a chance to walk in obedience. His failure wasn’t due to lack of opportunity — it was rooted in fear and control.
- He didn’t reject religion — he reshaped it. That’s what made it so dangerous. It looked spiritual, but it wasn’t submitted.
- The golden calf wasn’t a new sin — it was an old one recycled. Fear often revives old idols.
Application & Reflection
- Am I tempted to control outcomes instead of trust God’s promises?
- Have I created my own “version” of faith that feels safe but lacks surrender?
- Is there any area of influence in my life where I need to realign others to the truth?
Up Next:
Abijah – A Legacy of Half-Heartedness
While Jeroboam ruled the north, Rehoboam’s son Abijah took the throne in Judah — a king whose bold words didn’t quite match his spiritual walk.
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