The Kingdom was to be torn apart. Because of the sin of Solomon, God had promised that the Kingdom would be ripped away from the son of Solomon. Only the tribe of Judah would remain to the house of David.

Jeroboam was selected by God to be the king of the northern ten tribes of Israel. The Lord promised him that if he would just follow the Commandments and Statutes of God then his house would be built just as David’s house was. When Rehoboam ignored the pleas of the people and swore to make their lives harder, the Kingdom split just as Ahijah the prophet had said. Jeroboam didn’t trust God to fulfill His promise of blessings, so he sought his own path.

Jeroboam feared that the people would return their loyalties to the house of David if they were allowed to go to the Temple and worship. Committing sins that were beyond any before him, Jeroboam had two golden calves created. He told the people that these were the gods that brought them out of Egypt. He appointed priests that were not from the tribe of Levi to oversee this new religious system. He led the people of Israel astray and the Kingdom was ripped from his hands.

God blesses those who honor Him. In the Old Testament, Israel is blessed when they acknowledge God and serve Him (Kingdom under David) and then are punished when they deny God and serve foreign gods (Kingdom under Jeroboam). Would it not just be easier to trust God, take the blessings, and skip the punishment for disobedience? The more you read the Bible, the more I’m certain you will agree.

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