READ: 1 Kings 11:26-40; 1 Kings 12:20-33
“And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah…“ – Kings 12:32
The story of Jeroboam’s departure presents us with the quintessential departee who typifies all the characteristics of someone who leaves you and rebels against your authority.
Rehoboam and Jeroboam have similar sounding names. Many people do not know or remember the difference between these gentlemen. If you remember the letter “R” for “rightful” it will help you to remember that Rehoboam was the rightful heir to the throne of Solomon. However, Jeroboam who had worked as a servant to King Solomon rebelled against Rehoboam and broke away with ten of the twelve tribes of Israel.
God allowed this to happen because of the mistakes of Solomon. Ten out of the twelve members of Rehoboam’s kingdom were lost through the actions of Jeroboam. God allowed this terrible experience to happen to Rehoboam because of Solomon’s mistake. Even though the Lord allowed Jeroboam to succeed it presents us with a vivid illustration of how “departees” behave and the messages they leave in their wake.
It is only because Solomon disobeyed the Lord that the devil was given access to wreak havoc in Israel. Jeroboam was only the physical instrument for the onslaught of the devil on David and Solomon’s kingdom.