Lesson 294 - Junior

Memory Verse

"There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known”  (Matthew 10:26).

Notes

Jeroboam's Sins

Some Bible characters are known for their faith, some for their patience, still others for their great deeds. But some are known or remembered for their mistakes and failures. Jeroboam will always be remembered by, and his name connected with, five words: "Who made Israel to sin.” Nineteen times in the Bible these words are repeated concerning Jeroboam. What sad words to be spoken of one who should have been a faithful leader of God's people! We remember that it was Jeroboam who made the two calves of gold and offered sacrifices unto them, and told the people it was too much to go to Jerusalem to worship; so they, too, worshiped the golden calves.

Not only were the people of Israel affected by the sins of this wicked man, but even his very own family was harmed. Let us always remember that the life we live influences the life of every one with whom we make contact. "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself” [ROM:14:7]). We read in the Bible, "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right” [PRO:20:11]).

Seeking Counsel

Now we find the son of Jeroboam becoming ill. So Jeroboam had his wife disguise herself and go to Ahijah the Prophet in Shiloh to inquire whether the child would recover. With a huge bundle of gifts, which was customary when consulting a prophet, the worried mother began her journey to find the man of God. The Prophet of God was blind, so it would not have been necessary for Jeroboam's wife to disguise herself; but his spiritual eyes were sharp and quick to detect even the very footsteps of that woman. The "ears” of his heart, too, were anything but dull, for the voice of God had spoken, telling him that she was coming, and instructing him what to say to her.

A Revealer of Secrets

God often reveals secrets or hidden things to His people. Two young boys once broke into a house and stole some money when they knew the family was attending a church service. When the family returned and discovered that they had been robbed, the mother at once said she knew who had done this. The next day the officers approached the boys and demanded a confession. When brought before the people whom they had wronged, the boys wanted to know why they had been suspected. The mother told the boys that God in Heaven had showed her who was guilty. And she said they must always remember that God sees everything they do and He has a way of revealing those things to His own. "Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets” [DAN:2:47]).

Jeroboam's wife needed no introduction – in fact, she did not even have a chance to speak. The Prophet of God did all the talking, and rebuked her sharply for her disguise. A cloak of pretence may fool the world; some may even seem to "get by” with a "false front,” when it comes to religion. Others may seem to get by with their pastor or minister by sending gifts or by pretending to be something they are not, but God in Heaven sees it all, and will some day bring it out.

How foolish to think that a flimsy garb could not be penetrated by the eyes of the man of God! A true child of God has nothing to hide or cover up. His life is as an open book, read and known of all men [2CO:3:2]). He is never afraid or ashamed to face another Christian or a sinner.

Ahijah's Message

Ahijah told Jeroboam's wife that he had "heavy tidings” for her, or, in other words, a very sad message. He told her to go back and tell her husband that the Lord God of Israel had said that since he as king of the people had not kept the commandments of the Lord, but had done evil by making other gods and casting the Lord behind his back, He would bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam. Even their dead would not be buried. Those who would die in the city, the dogs would eat; and those who would die in the country, the birds would eat. And he said, "Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die.” There was her answer!

As for the people of Israel, they should be rooted up out of the good land, said Ahijah, and should be scattered afar. And with a very sad verdict he concluded his prophecy, "He [the LORD] shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.”

God's Word Fulfilled

Indeed, it must have been with a very heavy heart that this mother started home. Her boy Abijah must die, and her whole household should die without even a burial. As she reached the threshold of the door, her son died. However, this son was the only one of the whole house of Jeroboam who deserved a grave, because in him was found some good toward the Lord God. We read that during the reign of King Asa all the house of Jeroboam was slain and there was not left "any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the Lord, which he spake by his servant Ahijah” [1KG:15:29]).

We all know that the Children of Israel, the Jews, were scattered throughout the whole world. God's Word always comes to pass, and sin will not go without punishment.

Questions

1. What office did Jeroboam hold at this time?

2. Why did Jeroboam send his wife to the Prophet?

3. How did Ahijah know Jeroboam's wife was coming to see him?

4. How did Jeroboam compare with David?

5. Tell briefly the verdict pronounced upon Jeroboam's house. Upon Israel.

6. What happened to Jeroboam's sick son?

7. For what reason did this son receive a burial?

8. Tell of others in the Bible who have tried to cover up sin.