Restore

Series: Refresh

1 Kings 13:6-7 NLT

As we begin today we need to set the stage.

King Jeroboam is of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He ruled over 10 of the Hebrew tribes. The other two tribes lived in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Jeroboam became king of the ten northern tribes by leading a revolt against Solomon’s son Rehoboam. Both Jeroboam and Rehoboam fought to reign over all of Israel but Rehoboam let it be known that e would increase taxes and place heavy labor burdens on the people.

Wow…what a great platform to run on!

When the people of Israel rallied against him, Jeroboam was made king of ten of the tribes.

But when Jeroboam set up his kingdom he established various religious centers and set up golden calves so his places of worship would look really special. King Jeroboam became famous for being the leader who established the “sins of Jeroboam”. At the beginning of 1 Kings 13 a man of God from Judah (King Rehoboam’s territory) who is unnamed was sent to King Jeroboam in the Northern Kingdom to tell him a prophecy that his altar would be destroyed. The prophecy was a warning against the house of Jeroboam.

King Jeroboam (of the north) lost it and stretched out his hand against the prophet and ordered, “seize him” meaning the prophet…who by the way was sent by God.

When that happened his hand that he stretched out dried up and he could no longer move it. The altar disintegrated with ashes were flying everywhere.

Now, the prophet from Judah had the attention of King Jeroboam.

The King changed his tune and begged the prophet for God’s favor.

Even though King Jeroboam had not served the one true God, when he repented, the prophet asked God to restore his hand and God restored his hand.

As the story goes, the ending was miraculous and we are reminded of the power of God’s forgiveness.

1 Kings 13:6-7, “The king cried out to the man of God, “Please ask the LORD your God to restore my hand again!” So the man of God prayed to the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored and he could move it again. Then the king said to the man of God, “Come to the palace with me and have something to eat, and I will give you a gift.”

The King had not served God well.

The people from the Northern Kingdom did not worship Yahweh God.

But when the evil King Jeroboam was touched by the healing hand of God, his hand was restored.

However, he still did not turn to God. The prophecy was issued. The altar split. The most interesting facet of the story (in my humble opinion) is that the prophecy was not for the near future. With all the King’s ranting raving, the prophecy that was issued that day did not take place for around 350 years.

Even though the man of God prayed that the King’s hand would be healed he refused to accept the King’s invitation to dine in his house.

In the end, the King Jeroboam of the Northern Kingdom still did not fully repent and surrender to God even after God restored his hand.

The ultimate price King Jeroboam paid was that his disobedience resulted in the end of the king’s dynasty.

God’s word was final.

God’s judgment did come to pass.

Deborah

acrazyjourneycom