Read the Passage: 1 Kings 12:26-13:34
Today I want to tell the story of King Jeroboam. Last week we learned about a different king named Rehoboam and he was not a good king.
He was so hostile to his own people that it split the kingdom. There are 12 tribes in Israel- two tribes stayed with King Rehoboam, but the other 10 chose Jeroboam to be their king. So, this was good for Jeroboam! Most of the Israelites chose him to be their king. God even promised Jeroboam that he would have a dynasty as great as King David’s, but only if Jeroboam would follow God (that’s the caveat again) So, Jeroboam should feel secure! He has most of the Israelites but most of all he has a promise from God.
But his trust in God is about to be tested. Jeroboam encounters a problem, and it has to do with the location of worship. The law of Moses said that the worship of Yahweh was to be centered on Jerusalem. All the Israelites were required to go to Jerusalem every year to offer sacrifices and celebrate the goodness of God together.
But Jerusalem was the capital city of the other king! That’s where Rehoboam lived! And that made Jeroboam feel insecure. He thought, what if, when the Israelites go back to Jerusalem, they defect back to Rehoboam?! OR! What if, Rehoboam convinces the Israelites to secretly plot against me?! Not on my watch! You can feel his anxiety! So, Jeroboam comes up with a plan and it’s not very good.
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