Saturday, June 4, 2016

Reflection - Jeroboam's Wife and the Blind Priest Ahijah - God's grace, patience and his desire for our repentance

Hosted by Alan's Gleanings


The Wife of Jeroboam and the Blind Prophet
PHOTO: The Wife of Jeroboam and the Blind Prophet
King Jeroboam's son Abijah became deathly sick, and Jeroboam sent his wife to seek advice and help from the prophet Ahijah, who years ago had predicted Jeroboam's rise as king. She went in disguise, possibly because she was visiting in enemy territory, or possibly to avoid publicity over her son's illness.
But Ahijah, though old and blind, was not fooled by her disguise, having been instructed in advance by God. As soon as she arrived the prophet exposed her disguise and gave her a message from God for Jeroboam.
Painting by George Henry Grenville Manton, British Isles artists - The Wife of Jeroboam and the Blind Prophet (1888)
Picture posted by rfdarsie on Monday, 8 July 2013 at 11:33 AM
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazjiN3MLqv0cP_YEpMJ3FVwVR_RhQ4U6yPFsvYIaScl-nBGwMLYvd6fQ50vWBSM66V6QQIcat7NsHsKa4_1ZkxJuiTvGFwNAr_EKj3L3ja1Qnm5GBsOWEC0t01TAiAWhguRU41TJYOFY/s1600/16653628915_c2966f9e11_o.jpg
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8660/16653628915_c2966f9e11_o.jpg
http://19thcenturybritpaint.blogspot.sg/2013/07/a-group-of-georges.html


King Jeroboam
Although God had promised Jeroboam a great and lasting dynasty, Jeroboam rejected God's promise, and in that way nullified it. In order to achieve political security, Jeroboam abolished national worship of the LORD, and replaced it with worship of golden calf idols. These idols, and the sins practiced in connection with their cult, brought God's wrath, ending Jeroboam's dynasty after only two generations. Jeroboam's legacy eventually caused the downfall of the kingdom of Israel as well. (1 Kings 11:25-14:20; 2 Chronicles 10:1-13:20)


Jeroboam abolished national worship of the LORD, and replaced it with worship of golden calf idols.


PHOTO: Jeroboam abolished national worship of the LORD, and replaced it with worship of golden calf idols. These idols, and the sins practiced in connection with their cult, brought God's wrath, ending Jeroboam's dynasty after only two generations.
Picture posted by Ardis E. Parshall on 01 April 2010 at 06:30 am
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-a-E469-JCoump1qXGgEdUzhJTHG-yrJ_GiXSyu5iodpnJboXXX1J7WSzVDKFLxm-mewscOHcD0h1WRWzr1lNXGUBCpFhI-8kIncX3vvdbcyLeFldhhlzAuqqWMuDJ1nwPPrd8xZuro/s1600/Jeroboam%2527s_Idolatry.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Jeroboam's_Idolatry.jpg
http://www.nothingwavering.org/2010/01/04/17454-before-the-gospel-art-kit-ii-old-testament-story-challenge.html


Jeroboam's Doom Foretold
In his reign, King Jeroboam's son Abijah became deathly sick, and Jeroboam sent his wife to seek advice and help from the prophet Ahijah, who years ago had predicted Jeroboam's rise as king. She went in disguise, possibly because she was visiting in enemy territory, or possibly to avoid publicity over her son's illness.


King Jeroboam sent his wife to seek advice and help from the prophet Ahijah.


PHOTO: King Jeroboam sent his wife to seek advice and help from the prophet Ahijah. She went in disguise. As soon as she arrived the prophet exposed her disguise and gave her a message from God for Jeroboam: because Jeroboam had rejected God and introduced great sin into Israel, God was going to end his dynasty. Jeroboam and every male descendent would die in disgrace.
Picture posted by Mark Alburger on Saturday, 2 May 2009 at 11:04 PM
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_MG814YiMcv57izphYR7NjBwmcr8KNHtrgnzNRDnHwdX_R85iypiBJnhcVswvOiEqfmaKDbf01IdjrB10e1gJwTKOsTpXdtpfm6KnmXRfA1-Mg9xBhWhVzD_sxIDAx3xDof9VTG1HIo/s1600/000008IsraelJeroboamsWifeAndAhijahTheProphet.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0rxXn0blcHUKCkEjzMawpVAm9HJTMc7sGmjxuZhj5u5jv8H9Qg5JSNzwH-FHwaw__F_zYTNqnQCj5epYIWRwuKXUgvMMYDV6D8b5fzwWNqbP5iiC1Qpt-lW1FZgzeVIouWBQ_1EyghE/w1200-h630-p-nu/000008IsraelJeroboamsWifeAndAhijahTheProphet.jpg
http://markalburger2009.blogspot.sg/2009/05/may-2-reach-out-and-touch-in-dark.html


But Ahijah, though old and blind, was not fooled by her disguise, having been instructed in advance by God. As soon as she arrived the prophet exposed her disguise and gave her a message from God for Jeroboam: because Jeroboam had rejected God and introduced great sin into Israel, God was going to end his dynasty. Jeroboam and every male descendent would die in disgrace. The only exception would be the terminally ill Prince Abijah who, because of his integrity, would be allowed to die an honorable death - caused by his present illness.


Ahijah the blind prophet told Jeroboam's wife that Prince Abijah who, because of his integrity, would be allowed to die an honorable death - caused by his present illness.
PHOTO: Ahijah the blind prophet told Jeroboam's wife that Prince Abijah who, because of his integrity, would be allowed to die an honorable death - caused by his present illness.
Picture posted by Barzilaiendan on 28 March 2012
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoRbXhwsQVWWxaxibFUeIIJQnry7BhHIrLQBVQvwtUfFMbSf5JRKsu6JaPlwdoOFfmsX7claNApKs3QfHCx_w7WoeXV4nm3vlx4S5-ARHq-RYxCzzxy3rM2xBbAflG-xU2nOmavFWPaM/s1600/M000063-1.jpg
https://i0.wp.com/s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/lookandlearn-preview/M/M000/M000063.jpg
https://barzilaiendan.com/2012/03/28/arhivele-regale-2-ieroboam-sluga-fara-stapan-1-regi-131-1420/


The moment Jeroboam's wife returned home, Prince Abijah died. The nation observed a state funeral for him.
Source: 1 Kings 14:1-18


Jeroboam's Decline and Fall
Late in Jeroboam's career, one more in a series of wars broke out between Israel and Judah. It's not clear how the war started, but Judah's King Abijam, son of the late King Rehoboam, used the occasion to appeal to Jeroboam's cabinet to reject Jeroboam and his cult and return to the worship of the LORD, predicting that the LORD would give Judah victory over Jeroboam.


By the word of the Lord a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering.


PHOTO: By the word of the Lord a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering. By the word of the Lord he cried out against the altar: "Altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: 'A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.'" That same day the man of God gave a sign: "This is the sign the Lord has declared: The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out." (1 Kings 13:1-3)
Picture posted by left that other site on 7 July 2015 at 12:13:38 PM - The Man of God From Judah
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeny3w1K3taM96elGB8Gr8Xns8aI6g6EDcfInyZL_z7gzirIpoviDzYtKW7B8I8WUrbBnOePG6krXLMTgGpMZg8xC4W8s8J7CRzsfBsK-5VFr1K41PspCdZB4md2TetF7uYz20q-FD5U/s1600/Jeroboam_and_Prophet_1407-94.jpg
http://bibleencyclopedia.com/picturesjpeg/Jeroboam_and_Prophet_1407-94.jpg
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3307917/posts


Jeroboam had masterminded an ambush, and the battle began. God did indeed fight on behalf of those who trusted him, and Judah inflicted half a million casualties on Jeroboam's forces, and captured and occupied several towns as well. Significantly, they captured Bethel, where one of Jeroboam's golden calves was housed.

This was a setback from which Jeroboam's administration never recovered.


Judah inflicted half a million casualties on Jeroboam's forces


PHOTO: Judah inflicted half a million casualties on Jeroboam's forces, and captured and occupied several towns. They captured Bethel, where one of Jeroboam's golden calves was housed.
Painting by William Brassey Hole - King Josiah Cleansing the Land of Idols
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a3qQhRy7t5LkOJfylaPC7yuRh3Qmd2Q_hZRl769Vfl8iQ0cqgZJF6xri8-wJdZkaBOUcJWBKyrq1-_EfoUCMWvG1TbXdRm0H4TvxiIfZ23hyzFctym3TnHJKgq6Uz5slqKCQ-9qLh4w/s1600/painting1.jpg
http://www.wikigallery.org/paintings/198501-199000/198885/painting1.jpg
http://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_198885/William-Brassey-Hole/King-Josiah-cleansing-the-land-of-idols


Jeroboam died not long after, and was succeeded by his son Nadab. But soon Nadab was murdered by a soldier named Baasha, who pronounced himself king, and murdered the entire family of Jeroboam, fulfilling Ahijah's prophecy.
Source: 2 Chronicles 13; 1 Kings 15:28-30


 For Discussion
Jeroboam ignored God's promise of security, and instead turned to practices he knew were sinful, hoping this would provide security. It didn't - it was an unmitigated disaster.

Are there times when we, in spite of having excellent promises from God, ignore those promises and do things we know are sinful, hoping to gain things God has promised, but we don't trust him to deliver?

After Jeroboam rejected God's promise and established his cult, God could have abandoned him to his fate. Instead, God graciously sent a prophet to warn Jeroboam, and accompanied the warning with impressive miracles. What does this say about God's patience and his desire for our repentance?


Jeroboam ignored God's promise of security, and instead turned to practices he knew were sinful, hoping this would provide security. It didn't - it was an unmitigated disaster.<br>


PHOTO: Jeroboam ignored God's promise of security, and instead turned to practices he knew were sinful, hoping this would provide security. It didn't - it was an unmitigated disaster.

"Dear Lord, We pray for your guidance and help that we do not turned to practices which are sinful for security. Amen!"
Picture posted by EsauEqualsEvil - A Lesson In Fate
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7Lc13mipk1_6488YNmrB0tybmfG82fjL6oiYbsd5o2F8sYeYIVv46CDpeKEstZEcC-uXQqWicNryqSRhV75CU_zj-Qd6NAb103hB4I5_8gJRYM8vCZDQGC2wJYHLXvQfXiD5YmOWCj0/s1600/1280x720-p9c.jpg
http://s1.dmcdn.net/UN6cU/1280x720-p9c.jpg
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3woep5

Hosted by Alan's Gleanings



Reference
[1] King Jeroboam - Biography, Hosted by Alan's Gleanings, https://www.vtaide.com/gleanings/Kings-of-Israel/biography_Jeroboam.html

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