R³ Devotional - Day 174

In these 3 chapters of 1 Kings, we notice that after Solomon’s death, the northern tribes revolt, forming two separate nations.  Each nation experiences disastrous consequences from having evil kings.  Elijah appears on the scene, confronting these kings for their sins.  God deals with sin in powerful ways.  Although judgment may appear to be slow, God will judge evil harshly.

Although the kingdom of Israel was “united” under David and Solomon, the tensions between north and south were never resolved.  The jealousy and animosity behind this civil war didn’t begin with Rehoboam and Jeroboam but had its roots in the days of the judges, when the people were more interested in tribal loyalty than in national unity.  Note how easily tension arose between Ephraim, the most prominent tribe in the north, and Judah, the prominent tribe of the south.  

Here is how it played out.

• Ephraim claimed the promises in Genesis 48: 17-22 and 49: 22-26 for its leadership role.
  
  
• Joshua (Hoshea), who conquered the Promised Land, was an Ephraimite (Numbers 13: 8).
  
  
• Samuel, Israel’s greatest judge, was from Ephraim (1 Samuel 1: 1-28).
  
  
• Ephraim allied with Ish-bosheth, in revolt against David, who was from the tribe of Judah (2 Samuel 2: 8-11).
  
  
• David, a shepherd from the tribe of Judah, became king over all Israel, including Ephraim, which no longer had a claim to leadership.
  
  
• Although David helped to smooth over the bad feelings, the heavy yoke under Solomon and Rehoboam led the northern tribes to the breaking point.
  
  

Such tension developed because Ephraim was the key tribe in the north. They resented Judah’s role in leadership under David and resented that the nation’s capital and center of worship was located in Jerusalem. Even clear warnings are hard to obey. The Bible is filled with stories of people who had direction from God and yet chose their own way. Their disobedience was rarely due to ignorance of what God wanted; rather, it grew out of stubborn selfishness. Jeroboam was a consistent example of this all-too-human trait.  

Sin’s consequences are guaranteed in God’s Word, but the timing of those consequences is hard to predict. When we do something directly opposed to God’s commands and there isn’t immediate disaster, we are often fooled into believing we got away with disobedience. But that is a dangerous assumption, Jeroboam’s life should make us recognize our frequent need to admit our disobedience and ask God to forgive us.