TODAYS BIBLE READING:
 

Children naturally try to push the boundaries and see what they can get away with. When their behavior is not what they should be doing something is done or taken from them. Though we are so much older, are we really that much different? People walk around thinking they are pretty good (in fact this is why most everyone believes they are going to heaven) simply because they think no one sees their sins. Adults, often like children, sin because they feel there is no recourse. They get away with this or that, no one notices, and they falsely believe since they are respected by others and that they have gotten away with all of their sins. Jesus said in Luke 12:2, “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.” Do we believe that? If we were punished daily for our sins, we would all be zapped multiple times on a daily basis. Why aren’t we continually zapped? Grace and mercy. May we all remember 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

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As we go through the lives of the various kings, they often set their eyes on the throne without ever considering God, who placed them there. Believing the ends justify the means, with a zeal for power, prestige, and wealth all sorts of conspiracy, murder, and worshipping of false idols are acted out. Seeing no immediate consequences for their wrong behavior they proceed along this evil path. I’m sure along the way they are receiving the accolades of those in their cabinet and those prospering through their leadership. With their eyes looking at the wrong thing they have no idea that they aren’t really getting away with anything. In 1 Kings 14:9-11, we read “but you have done more evil than all who were before you, for you have gone and made for yourself other gods and molded images to provoke Me to anger, and have cast Me behind your back - therefore behold! I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, bond and free; I will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as one takes away refuse until it is all gone. The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Jeroboam and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field; for the Lord has spoken!’”

Jeroboam was given 22 years to correct his course, but he did not. We will see this prophecy lived out 5 years later by the hand of King Baasha in 15:28-30.

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Many mistakenly refer to the God of the Old Testament as a God of wrath. Really? He gave Jeroboam 22 years to correct his evil ways before judgment happened. For those who believe it is unfair to those surrounding the king to be punished, such as his family, simply follow the course of events and the evil not only permeates but tends to worsen as each generation unfolds. We don’t live during this era, but instead live at a time and in a nation where our sins are rampant and continually worsening before our Holy God. Arrogantly we continue in our sin surrounding ourselves with fellow sinners believing that we are pretty good because others see us that way. There are things occurring now which might make those evil kings from the past blush. Because God is patient, people believe there is no recourse for their sin. For some that punishment might occur when their sins are found out on earth. For others may we take to heart the words in Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” It doesn’t really matter what the rest of the world is saying, our time here on earth is relatively short compared to eternity. Nothing remains concealed before the eyes of God. We can take this to heart and come to repentance before our amazingly patient God before it is too late, or consequences will indeed proceed at a time when there is nothing that can be done to change our fate. God has given each of us free will to choose, may we choose wisely.