1 Kings 14 -- Jeroboam Didn't Accept God's Help Either

"We don't read in Scripture that Jeroboam sought the Lord's will, prayed for spiritual discernment, or asked the Lord to make him a godly man.  He prayed for healing for his arm, and now he asked the prophet Ahijah to heal his son ... it's obvious that physical blessings were more important to him than spiritual blessings.  Like many nominal believers and careless church members today, the only time Jeroboam wanted help from God's servant was when he was in trouble," my commentary began.

Jeroboam's son died from illness.  "God judged the royal family and the apostate citizens by calling the boy away from the cesspool on iniquity that was called Israel.  'The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart; and devout men are taken away, while no one understands.  For the righteous man is taken away from evil (Isaiah 57:1.'  The one son of wicked Jeroboam who could have ruled justly would be taken from them, not because he was wicked, but because he was good and God wanted to spare him the suffering that lay ahead of the kingdom."

"The king's hand had been healed and his altar destroyed, and now his son had died.  His army would be defeated by the king of Judah ... How many times did God have to warm him before he would repent?" my commentary asked.

Father, thank You for the words of Isaiah 57 and the picture of Your grace removing us from evil.  They show Your love and caring, not Your vengeance as some would say.  Please keep my heart near to Yours and give me wisdom to see Your warnings and heed them.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford