Book 2 of Musings Jeroboam

We never are to grasp tightly what God has given us, or attempt to force things and circumstances in order to protect our gift and insure its survival and operation. To do so leads us away from God and into idolatry. God always makes a way for and protects the gifts He has given.

King Jeroboam is an excellent example of what not to do with God's gifts. God made Jeroboam king over the ten tribes, knowing that in the future, King Rehoboam, with his unwise remarks, would cause a division among the tribes of Israel.

About that time Jeroboam was going out of Jerusalem, and Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh met him on the way, wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone out in the country, And Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces. Then he said to Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon's hand and give you ten tribes. (1 Kings 11:29-31)

Jeroboam should have received assurance from God's words: "See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon's hand and give you ten tribes."

That promise was all Jeroboam needed. No power in Heaven above or on the earth beneath could have done anything to change that decree, once the Lord God had spoken.

Jeroboam, who had not earned such a gift, should have rejoiced in the Lord with all confidence. If he had ruled with wisdom and justice the history of Israel from that point forward might have been altogether different. They might never have been dispossessed by the Assyrians.

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 my ways and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes 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. (1 Kings 11:37-38)

Instead Jeroboam grasped his gift and peered around suspiciously to see if it could be taken from him in some manner. He did not stop and realize that if God had given it to him, no one was going to take it away.

Jeroboam thought to himself, "The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam." (1 Kings 12:26-27)

Can you imagine this? Here Jeroboam was given the kingship as a sovereign gift. Then he clutched it to himself, forgot all about the Lord, and proceeded to make a name for himself as one of the wickedest of the kings of Israel.

Would Jeroboam have become so wicked if God had not anointed him king? There is no record that Jeroboam prior to this time was anything other than a courageous, industrious young man. In fact, Solomon put Jeroboam in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.

Can you see that our greatest gifts carry the greatest potential for disaster?

We never are to grasp tightly what God has given us. If God wants us to continue to have them, fine. If God wants to remove them, or put them on the shelf for a season, fine. What God has given God has every right to take away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Notice that the Lord Jesus did not grasp His Divine rights.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, But made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (Phil 2:5-7)

I wonder what God would do if He could find someone whom He could endow with great authority, power, and wisdom, who then would esteem himself as nothing and permit God to use him at God's pleasure.

It is difficult, isn't it, if God has used us and then places us on the shelf. We have to defend our testimony, don't we? Don't we have to make sure that God is glorified through our great gifts?

Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, became a byword in Israel, standing for all that is abhorrent to God. All because he clutched that which God had given to him so freely.

Let us not make the same mistake! The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

The LORD will raise up for himself a king over Israel who will cut off the family of Jeroboam. This is the day! What? Yes, even now. And the LORD will strike Israel, so that it will be like a reed swaying in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land that he gave to their forefathers and scatter them beyond the River, because they provoked the LORD to anger by making Asherah poles. And he will give Israel up because of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit." (1 Kings 14:14-16)