Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In my opinion, the main points that God was trying to convey to Israel in this chapter were the sinfulness and seriousness of idolatry in God's eyes, and also the importance of discernment and steadfastness in determining guidance that is from God and guidance that is not, especially if two statements that are both reported to be from God are in direct contradiction of each other. (As the Bible says, God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).)

The judgment against Jeroboam's idolatry that was pronounced by the prophet in verses 2 and 3 at the beginning of the chapter was attested as being from God both by its specificity (in naming the future king who would carry out God's judgment), and by its accompanying signs in verses 4 and 5 (the immediate destruction of the altar on which Jeroboam had been sacrificing, and the withering of Jeroboam's outstretched arm). (To me, this portion of the chapter also highlights God's mercy in healing Jeroboam's arm, despite his idolatry (verse 6). This mercy should have caused Jeroboam to turn away from his sin in gratitude to God, but it apparently did not (verse 33).) 

In light of these signs indicating the authenticity of the word that he had received from God, the prophet who pronounced the judgment should therefore have been especially careful to heed the remainder of what God had told him, and not to have been deceived by the lying prophet from Bethel, particularly since the lying prophet's words were in complete opposition to the guidance that the first prophet knew he had received from God, and also since the first prophet had already declined Jeroboam's offer of a meal and a gift (verse 7), because God had told him not to eat or drink (verse 9). When he allowed himself to be taken in by the false words of the lying prophet, it led directly to judgment from God and his death.

January 20 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report