“Then Jeroboam’s wife got up and departed for Tirzah, and as soon as she stepped over the threshold of the house, the boy died. And they buried him, and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servant Ahijah the prophet.” vs17-18

God is going to do what He says. Let us fear, tremble, and obtain mercy.

He raised Jeroboam up, but he flung Him behind his back! He did not pay attention to God, disregarded His prophets, and caused the people to commit idolatry!

Jeroboam set up worship in the wrong place. Then, he ordained anyone who wanted to be a priest. Finally, in all of this, he did not repent!

Why doesn’t man fear God? Why does he fear losing position and power but not the Almighty’s wrath? This is the deceit of Satan -that man thinks God is like himself and on his level.

“You have done these things, and I kept silent;

you thought I was just like you.

But now I rebuke you

and accuse you to your face.

Now consider this, you who forget God,

lest I tear you to pieces,

with no one to rescue you:” [Ps 50:21-22]

But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”

Pharaoh will, however, know Him forever as the God who pours out wrath, because he despised His mercy. Pharaoh hardened his heart, and God hardened him -using him to show the glory of His wrath, His power, and His justice [Rom 9:22]!

Don’t let this be you. Hearken while you can and come to Christ.

Secondly, God promised Jeroboam that He’d raise up a king to destroy him. 1 Kings 14:14

“Moreover, the LORD will raise up for Himself a king over Israel who will cut off the house of Jeroboam. This is the day—yes, even today!” vs14

This King is ultimately Jesus Christ who will pour out the WRATH OF THE LAMB.

And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?” [Rev 6:16-17]

If He isn’t received as a God of mercy, then justice will punish the sinner! There’ll be no turning Him and no changing His mind.

Good men have gone bad by thinking that God’s wrath is too much, but we must take the Scriptures. Men say He can’t punish forever, but they don’t realize the testimony is irrevocably written and unchanging. Christ didn’t just die by annihilation, but He suffered under God’s wrath, and so will every sinner who does not repent.

Repent, and turn to Christ. He will forgive you and receive you.

Thirdly, God is merciful to every speck of faith. 1 Kings 14:12-13

“As for you, get up and go home. When your feet enter the city, the child will die. All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. For this is the only one belonging to Jeroboam who will receive a proper burial, because only in him has the LORD, the God of Israel, found any good in the house of Jeroboam.” vs12-14

Jeroboam’s son died, but he was the only one in the family who pleased God. He was not a mighty man, humanistically, but God knew him and remembered him. His faith didn’t change his family, but he believed God amidst great opposition, when everyone around him was lost.

He obtained a GOOD BURIAL, and so will you. God will forgive and cleanse: He will keep us, though we stumble and fall… though we don’t have great faith like our ancestors.

Are you in a house holding onto Christ and surrounded by evil? God sees you, and He approves. Is your faith small? It saves, regardless.

“For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,” [Rom 10:12]