AVOID THE WAY OF JEROBOAM
"1 And behold, a man of God went from Judah to Bethel by the word of the Lord, and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 2 Then he cried out against the altar by the word of the Lord, and said, “O altar, altar! Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, a child, Josiah by name, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men’s bones shall be burned on you.’” 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign which the Lord has spoken: Surely the altar shall split apart, and the ashes on it shall be poured out.” 1 Kings 13:1-3.
The ancient town of Bethel was formerly known as Luz. Jacob changed the name from Luz to Bethel. In Hebrew, it means "House of El" or “House (or place) of God.” Bethel is first mentioned in the Bible in connection with Abraham, who built an altar to God there. Genesis 12:8. His grandson, Jacob, also had a mysterious encounter at Bethel. While traveling from Beersheba to Haran in other to escape his brother Esau, Jacob stopped for the night in Luz. As he slept, he dreamed of a ladder that stretched up from earth to heaven and the angels of God were climbing up and down the ladder. Genesis 28:10–22. God spoke and revealed Himself to Jacob in Bethel. Then he set up a sacred pillar, and consecrated the site as a place to worship God. Bethel also housed the Ark of the Covenant during the period of the Judges. Judges 20:18, 26–28. Bethel was a place of renewal, reorientation, and transformation. It was the place of God’s presence and glory. Bethel was a place of consecration and sanctification. It was a place of divine intervention and answered prayer. Bethel was a place of repentance and seeking the will of God. It was a symbol of communion. Bethel was a sacred place! Sadly Jeroboam defiled the altar of God in Bethel. He set up a golden calf there. Jeroboam turned Bethel to a place of idolatry.
"Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast that was in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did at Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made. And at Bethel he installed the priests of the high places which he had made." 1 Kings 12:32.
After the division of Israel into two, Rehoboam became king of the Southern Kingdom (Judah), made up of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin; while Jeroboam was made king of the remaining ten tribes called the Northern Kingdom (Israel). Jeroboam's ascension to the throne was a part of divine purpose. 1 Kings 11:38. The Lord had promised him that if he would keep the Laws, he would be blessed and his family would continue to rule over the land of Israel. But he began to give way to fear! Jeroboam was afraid that if the people were to worship God at the Temple in Jerusalem, they would end up rejecting him. So, he set up an alternate places of worship in Israel. Jeroboam did not trust that God could help him to continue on the throne, yet it was God who gave him the kingdom. He created worship centers, in Dan and Bethel, to prevent his people from going to Jerusalem. 1 Kings 12:28-29. Not only did he establish idolatry in Dan and Bethel, Jeroboam also established himself as the High priest. 1 Kings 13:1. God had chosen the city of Jerusalem as the place where He wanted His people to worship Him. Psalm 132:13; 2 Chronicles 6:6. Yet, Jeroboam built altars in Dan and Bethel. He offered sacrifices to the golden calves in Dan and Bethel. Jeroboam corrupted the worship of the True God. Besides, Jeroboam violated the commandments of God on priesthood. 2 Chronicles 11:14. The Levites were rejected as priests. Jeroboam appointed all kinds of people as priests in Dan and Bethel. 1 Kings 12:31. Again, the Lord commanded the children of Israel to observe the feast of Tabernacles on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. Numbers 29:12. But, Jeroboam created his own day of feast! He did evil and caused Israel to do the same. There are no less than thirteen kings of Israel whose idolatry is traced back to Jeroboam. Year after year, despite God sending many of His prophets to warn them they persisted. Israel did not depart from the ways of Jeroboam. 2 Kings 17:22. So Israel was carried away into exile. 2 Kings 17:21–23. Bethel fell to the Assyrians, along with the rest of the Northern Kingdom, in 721 BC.
THE SIN OF IDOLATRY:
"You shall not make anything to be with Me—gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves." Exodus 20:23.
God was angry about what Jeroboam had done. Through His prophets, He called upon the people of ancient Israel to abandon idols and obey Him. But they would not! "Do not go after other gods to serve them and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands; and I will not harm you." Jeremiah 25:6. The people would not listen. From one generation to another, they disobeyed. They gave their time, treasures and devotions to idols.
According to the Easton's Bible Dictionary, idolatry is "image-worship or divine honour paid to any created object." It is the worshipping of idols. Idolatry provokes God to jealousy. It defiles and pollutes people and the land. Idolatry ignites the anger of God. It destroy and separate us from the Lord. Sadly, idolatry is a temptation and risk for every generation.
So what are you putting in place of God today? Are there idols in your life that are preventing you from worshipping God wholehearted? These idols can be anything that replaces our worship of God. It can be any person, object or activity we give our full time, resources and devotion to. Idols are what we treasures more than God. They're an object of worship! It is anything that would occupy the place of God in our hearts. And, just because you don’t bow down and worship a golden statue does not mean you don’t have idols. Many a time when we think of idols, we think of some wooden object that people worship. Yet idols can be money, house, job, car, relationship, or even your family. It could be entertainment, actors, musicians, politicians, writers, or scientists. Idols can be alcohol, drugs, sex, or physical appearance. It can be the work you do for the Lord that consumes all your energy and time. Your idol could be sports, fame, or education. "Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." 1 John 5:21. To keep ourselves from something requires purpose, determination and commitment on our parts. We must daily guard against idolatry. Guarding requires constant vigilance.
1. Identify your idol.
2. Repent of the sin of idolatry.
Give up whatever you have exalted above God in your life and unconditionally surrender yourself to Him again.
3. Work on your relationship with God.
Love Him with all your heart, body and soul. Be devoted to God. Worship Him daily. Give God first place in your life.
4. Renew your mind daily.
The word renew means to make like new; to restore to freshness, vigor, perfection; to begin again; and to restore.
a. You can renew your mind through daily prayer. Philippians 4:6.
b. Meditation on God's Word Psalm 119:1, Psalm 119:11, Colossians 1:28, Philippians 4:8, Colossians 3:10. You must constantly be in God’s Word, let it guide your thinking and behavior.
c. Watch carefully what you permit your mind to dwell on.
5. Praise and worship God always.
6. Trust in the Lord whole-heartedly.
"Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." 1 Corinthians 10:14.
God made repeated attempts to reach Jeroboam. The prophets warned. But he, the kings that came after him and the children of Israel refused to listen. They committed spiritual adultery. Today, just as in those days, God's sending righteous men and women to warn His people, and to turn them back to Him. If you want to resume a broken relationship with God, say this prayer now: O God, I come to You today. I know I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus died on the cross to save me and He resurrected on the third day. I repent of my sins and forsake them. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to Him today. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God. Amen.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Father, forgive me for my idolatry, in Jesus name.
2. O Lord, help me to identify my idols and to replace them with a closer relationship with You, in Jesus name.
3. O Lord, take away the idols in my life, in Jesus name.
4. Father, help me to love You, in Jesus name.
5. Thank You, Lord, for answering my prayers.
