Good Morning Friends,
God’s prophet spoke of Jeroboam’s rule with
these words, “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. 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.” (1 Kings 14:8-9)
In punishment for his wickedness, God visited disaster
upon Jeroboam’s house. Jeroboam’s son died and it was promised that all of
Jeroboam’s house would be cut off.
It wouldn’t be just Jeroboam and his family who
would suffer because of the king’s sins and the people’s willingness to follow
him into sin. The whole nation of Israel would face disaster, too. “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 14:15-16)
Those words were spoken by an obscure prophet
of God named Ahijah. They were spoken during the reign of Jeroboam, who ruled
Israel from 926 BC until about 904 BC. The fulfillment of that prophecy was not
immediate. In fact, almost 200 years would pass and still Israel would be a
nation, God’s doom had not happened. It must have seemed to the people of
Israel that God wouldn’t or couldn’t bring about the disaster He had
prophesied. Then it happened. In 721 BC the Assyrians conquered the northern
kingdom and its people were scattered throughout the world never to return
again to the Promised Land. God’s
prophecy came true – although it took about 200 to see its fulfillment.
Two things strike me about this story …
God’s patience. He waited 200 years to bring
His judgment, giving ample opportunity for repentance – although none would
come among the people of the northern kingdom.
The certainty of God’s Word. God’s Word was
fulfilled – it always will be!
His, by Grace,
Steve
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