Rehoboam, Solomon's son, foolishly turned down the advice of older men to lessen the rigours of his father's reign.

1 Kings 12:13 "And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;"

The advice to serve the people is the Biblical and constitutional idea of a king. He is to be their servant, but not, of course, their slave. To let the people see that the king lives for them, and not for himself, will make the people willing to obey, love, and defend the king.

"There seemed to be no end to the harm done to God's cause in Israel by this one man's folly. The turning of events was foreknown by God; and they were necessary to fulfil the prophecy of 11:30-39." Dake

The foolishness of man was also fulfilling God's Word through Ahijah (1 Kings 12:15 ).

1 Kings 12:18 "Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem."

Rehoboam could not have sent a worse representative to Israel, than Adoram. He was the one who had been in charge of forced labour. The way they dealt with Adoram expressed their complete revolt against Rehoboam - and that the tearing of the kingdom was an actuality. There can be no healing of breached relationship when the cause is not dealt with.

Division was quickly followed by preparation for war. The devil wins when the Lord's people are so busy fighting each other, instead of fighting him. Shemaiah the man of God, spoke the Word of God into the heated situation, (1 Kings 12:22-24 ) and Rehoboam's army turned back, according to the Word of the Lord. Instead of being overcome with the heat of the problem, we need to seek and speak the Word of God.

1 Kings 12:27 "If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah."

In the face of God giving the throne of Israel to Jeroboam, and the conditional promise to bless and establish him, Jeroboam was sinful and unfaithful. Instead of turning to God he turned to idolatry in an attempt to secure his reign (1 Kings 12:25-30 ). Jeroboam instituted festivals on the holy days God had commanded (1 Kings 12:31 ), sacrificing to the calves he had made - so keeping the ten tribes of Israel from going to Jerusalem to worship God. Contrary to God's Word, he appointed priests even, who were not Levites.

Jeroboam used the words of Exodus 32:8, in which God informed Moses of Israel worshipping the golden calf, claiming that his calves represented the presence of the gods that delivered them out of Egypt. God punished him and his house for the sin of prohibited images (1 Kings 13:4-7, 2 Kings 23:15 ). How easily the people were led into idolatry. At first, not actually worshipping the calves but the God they thought the calves represented - then the calves and the demon power behind them.

The chapters that follow show the downward degradation and destruction of the nation. From here on, evil kings are likened to Jeroboam - Good kings to David. Watch out for modern Jeroboams who substitute material things for the true and living God.

1 Kings 13:1 "And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense."

God sends His man with His Word and signs following. But Jeroboam did not repent, setting his heart to do evil. Miracle ministry rejected brings greater consequences in eternal judgment.

Matthew 11:20,21,24 "Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: ²¹ "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²⁴ "But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you." "

The man of God's prediction specifically naming Josiah (1 Kings 13:2 ) - is an example of accurate personal prophecy - fulfilled around 290 years later (2 Kings 23:15-20 ).

The man of God had been given details from God as to his coming and going in the conducting of his mission - he fell by neglect of those specific instructions. This true, live story of the untimely end of a man of God presents a number of lessons. Deception can be practiced by one known to be a spokesman of God. The man of God, upon being given different instructions from man, did not consult God.

"God's people are more in danger of being drawn from their duty by plausible presences of divinity and sanctity than by external inducements; we have therefore, need to beware of false prophets, and not believe every spirit." Matthew Henry

1 Kings 13:24 "When he was gone, a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his corpse was thrown on the road, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the corpse."

The man of God who failed to keep the conditions of his mission was swiftly and severely punished. The wicked prophet seemed to go unpunished, but knowing God's sure punishment of the good man, he would know eternal consequences awaited him.

Opportunity to repent by being challenged by miraculous events was missed, and persistence in breaking God's Word continued (Numbers 3:10 ). Jeroboam's sin is named as the reason for the ultimate destruction of his house from the face of the earth. A gifted leader with popular support must not be followed in sin.

Turning to the prophet Ahijah, though deceitfully, expecting he would hear good things, Jeroboam received only the condemnation of the Word of God. The passing of Jeroboam is briefly stated. How different his 22 years of reign might have been, had he not caused Israel to sin. Trying to hide from God is impossible. God's wrath is against unfaithfulness to Him as the only true God.

Rehoboam of Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord. His apostasy is traced to an idolatrous mother, (1 Kings 14:21 ). Note God's indictment (1 Kings 14:22-24 ). God punished by giving victory to the king of Egypt who took away the national treasures. Nations that turn from God are exposed to great loss (1 Kings 14:25-26 ). Substitutes for the loss of the real is in fact, self-deception (1 Kings 14:27,28 ). Rehoboam knew no peace all his days, and died in sin (1 Kings 14:29-31 ).

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. Did Rehoboam miss a real opportunity to unite the people and be a servant king? (1 Kings 12:1-15 ).
2. Why was it wrong judgment to send Adoram as representative, to Israel? ( 1 Kings 12:18 ).
3. What would you say is the wise way to heal a breached relationship?
4. How did God intervene to stop a civil war? (1 Kings 12:22-24 ).
5. Do you let the word of the Lord cool you in heated situations?
6. Do you find it is common for God's word to be falsely quoted by those who would deceive? (1 Kings 13:26; Exodus 32:8 ).
7. Would you expect a miracle to authenticate a personal prophecy that was to be fulfilled long after the prophet's lifetime? (1 Kings 13:1-10 ).
8. What main lesson do you learn from the untimely end of the man of God? (1 Kings 13:11-22 ).
9. What specific lesson do you learn from the wicked prophet?
10. Is turning from the truth a sin from which many other sins grow? (1 Kings 13:33 ).
11. What sin of Jeroboam was the root cause of Israel's fall? (1 Kings 13:34 ).
12. When evil men set out to deceive God's servants, who are they really trying to deceive and manipulate? (1 Kings 14:1-7 ).
13. What kind of reputation did Jeroboam earn, and what was the judgment he reaped? (1 Kings 14:7-20 ).
14. Why was it a privilege for a king of Judah to reign in Jerusalem? (1 Kings 14:21 ).
15. To whom is Rehoboam's apostasy traceable? (1 Kings 14:21, 31 ).
16. What is meant by "perverted persons," and "abominations" of the Canaanite nations? (1 Kings 14:24 ).
17. When people make substitutes for real spiritual life, are they living in self-deception? (1 Kings 14:25-28 ).