1 Kings 14:1

JEROBOAM TRYING TO HIDE FROM GOD;

PROPHECIES REGARDING ISRAEL'S CAPTIVITY AND HARDENING;

REHOBOAM'S LOSS OF THE GOLDEN SHIELDS

Following the death of Solomon and the division of Israel into two kingdoms, there came a dramatic shift in the interest of the sacred narrator. Kings became less and less important, and the prophets of God moved up front and center stage in Biblical emphasis. This chapter focuses upon the word of Jehovah to the prophet Ahijah, but it summarizes the whole twenty-two years of Jeroboam's reign in a few short lines (1 Kings 14:19-20).

To all intents and purposes of God, the monarchy of Israel had already ended in total failure and disgrace, and from that time forward Israel's only hope was to be found in their honoring of the word of the holy prophets. The racial nation, that is, the vast majority of them, also missed that hope, even rejecting the Christ when he came.

In the preceding two chapters, we were astounded at the excuses many modern writers offer for Jeroboam's installation of his bull calf-idols at Dan and Bethel, because the true and correct evaluation of Jeroboam's conduct in his installation of those idols is spelled out clearly in the words of God's prophet in this chapter.

JEROBOAM ADMITTED HIS ALIENATION FROM GOD

"At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife. Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, who spake concerning me that I should be king over this people. And take with thee ten loaves, and cakes, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he will tell thee what shall become of the child. And Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age. And Jehovah said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to inquire of thee concerning her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shall thou say unto her: for it will be when she cometh in, that she will feign herself to be another woman."

Jeroboam in this maneuver confessed his estrangement from God, but he thought by hiding his identity that he might procure God's blessing by subterfuge.

TRYING TO HIDE FROM GOD

I. Adam and Eve tried to hide in Eden.

II. Ahab tried to hide in battle (1 Kings 22:30).

III. Jonah tried to hide by flight to Tarshish.

IV. Some try to hide from God by moving to some large city.

V. Forsaking the church is a means of hiding from God for some.

VI. Jeroboam found that no man can hide from God.

"Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick" (1 Kings 14:1). Both the word of the prophet and the mourning of the people indicate that Abijah was not wicked like his father.

"Disguise thyself" (1 Kings 14:2). It is strange indeed that Jeroboam believed that he could deceive Ahijah. Of course, Ahijah was blind, and that might have prompted Jeroboam's foolish maneuver.

"Take ... ten loaves ... cakes ... cruse of honey" (1 Kings 14:3). What a paltry gift from a king! She was pretending to be the wife of a farmer.

"And Jehovah said unto Ahijah" (1 Kings 14:5). The message of God for Jeroboam through this prophet is the important part of this chapter, and that comes next.