1 Kings 14: 7 Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I raised you up from among the people and made you a leader over my people Israel. 8 I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commands and followed me with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes. 9 You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have provoked me to anger and thrust me behind your back.
Have you ever noticed that if you read much in the old testament you will find this reoccurring theme? God puts a king in place, gives him a promised future and specific commands, and usually in the next chapter you see that the same king has led the people astray, he has erected idols and broken every law of God! I have read of these kings like Jeroboam time and time again, usually thinking something like, “WHAT WAS HE THINKING?”.
Was he drunk with power and ignored God? Is it that he was insincere? Was it that he never knew God? I think it is something else entirely. I think he just relied on other people’s experiences with God and never really had a relationship with God himself. I have been thinking about this a lot lately. So many people, myself included, can often rely on the word that God has given someone else instead of really putting in the time and effort to truly have an intimacy with Christ. It’s easy to just listen to a great message and feel fed but really we all have the ability to hear from God. I have often said that church was not meant to feed you… (wow strong statement right, just hear me out) If you only ate once a week you would be a hot mess! It’s the same with church, you can’t starve yourself during the week and then expect the pastor’s message to fix you.
Sometimes God will withdraw and be silent for entire seasons in our life. It tests our love and devotion. Will you love me if you don’t tremble everytime you pray? Will you love me if I say no to your prayer request? Will you still love me if things don’t go your way? Jeroboam lost his way because he relied on the prophets to give him the word of the Lord.
The saying goes, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” … Really? That is true but only if you are really in love. Otherwise, its just “Out of sight, Out of Mind”.
Food for thought
