1Ki 14:1-5 | KingComments | STEP | Jeroboam persists in his sin. In the previous chapter we read that the main sin has to do with the service to God ( ). He ordains whoever wants to be a priest. He completely disregards the law of God; He puts God aside. God cannot tolerate this. He disciplines Jeroboam by making his son sick. He will be his favorite son, because Jeroboam is very concerned about the outcome of the sickness. It may be the heir to the throne. God knows how to address people once again ( ). “For He does not afflict willingly or grieve the sons of men” ( ), but “You have seen [it], for You have beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Your hand” ( ). Jeroboam, however, does not put it into God’s hand, but expects it from a man, Ahijah. He does, however, resort to a true prophet of the LORD and not to one of his idols. He knows that they can’t help him. However, he does not address the prophet in faith, but in superstition. This prophet had such a great message for him by telling him that he would become king. Wouldn’t the prophet have a good message for him now? Jeroboam sends his wife not to ask the prophet for intercession, but to consult him as a medium, to know what will happen to the boy. But she has to disguise herself. This also shows that Jeroboam does not really seek and know God. Who thinks he can fool God by disguise, by pretending differently than he really is? As if God does not look further than the outside. God’s concern is the inside! Not that the outside, the appearance, is unimportant. God wants the appearance to be an honest representation of the inner being and not a farce. [It is worth checking the Bible to see what dress-up parties or disguises are there and what they mean.] Jeroboam’s wife takes a gift with her (cf. ). It is the gift that a simple citizen woman could bring. It seems that with this Jeroboam wants to elicit a favorable prophecy from the prophet. She goes to Shiloh, which also lies in the ten tribes realm. So Ahijah also lives in that realm, but not as the old prophet in Bethel, but far away from it. Shiloh is also the place where the LORD used to live, where the tabernacle stood. God wants and can use this prophet again.

‏ 1 Kings 14:1-5

The Son of Jeroboam Becomes Sick

Jeroboam persists in his sin. In the previous chapter we read that the main sin has to do with the service to God (1Kgs 13:33). He ordains whoever wants to be a priest. He completely disregards the law of God; He puts God aside.

God cannot tolerate this. He disciplines Jeroboam by making his son sick. He will be his favorite son, because Jeroboam is very concerned about the outcome of the sickness. It may be the heir to the throne. God knows how to address people once again (Job 33:29-30). “For He does not afflict willingly or grieve the sons of men” (Lam 3:33), but “You have seen [it], for You have beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Your hand” (Psa 10:14).

Jeroboam, however, does not put it into God’s hand, but expects it from a man, Ahijah. He does, however, resort to a true prophet of the LORD and not to one of his idols. He knows that they can’t help him. However, he does not address the prophet in faith, but in superstition. This prophet had such a great message for him by telling him that he would become king. Wouldn’t the prophet have a good message for him now?

Jeroboam sends his wife not to ask the prophet for intercession, but to consult him as a medium, to know what will happen to the boy. But she has to disguise herself. This also shows that Jeroboam does not really seek and know God. Who thinks he can fool God by disguise, by pretending differently than he really is? As if God does not look further than the outside. God’s concern is the inside! Not that the outside, the appearance, is unimportant. God wants the appearance to be an honest representation of the inner being and not a farce. [It is worth checking the Bible to see what dress-up parties or disguises are there and what they mean.]

Jeroboam’s wife takes a gift with her (cf. 1Sam 9:7-8). It is the gift that a simple citizen woman could bring. It seems that with this Jeroboam wants to elicit a favorable prophecy from the prophet. She goes to Shiloh, which also lies in the ten tribes realm. So Ahijah also lives in that realm, but not as the old prophet in Bethel, but far away from it. Shiloh is also the place where the LORD used to live, where the tabernacle stood. God wants and can use this prophet again.

Jeroboam’s Wife Meets Ahijah

The prophet Ahijah is blind. Humanly there is a double disadvantage: a blind prophet and a disguised woman. But the blind prophet is in communication with the God of Whom is true: “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Heb 4:13). He receives from God the words he must speak. He immediately addresses the woman with her true name. That must have been a shock to her. She has been discovered!