GOD KNOWS BETTER

The Bible repeatedly speaks of “the sins of Jeroboam” and says that he not only sinned but also “made Israel to sin.” Several years ago when I read of the "sins" of Jeroboam, my curiosity was piqued. Sure, I knew he sinned in setting up the two golden calves, one at Dan and one at Bethel. But that did not set well with me to be the summation of his "sins." His rebellion was much larger than those two golden calves, though they were bad enough. He also created an alternative religious system that changed the place of worship, the priesthood, and even the sacred calendar.

After the kingdom divided, Jeroboam feared that if the northern tribes continued traveling to Jerusalem, their loyalty might return to the house of David. His solution was political, but it produced spiritual compromise. He made two golden calves, placing one at Bethel and the other at Dan, and declared, “Behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt" (1 Kings 12:28). Where did I read this before?! Ah! In the book of Exodus, we saw these very words used by Aaron, the high priest. Isn't it strange how sin keeps repeating? Scripture immediately says, "This thing became a sin” (1 Kings 12:30). Jeroboam did not stop with the calves.

God had appointed the Feast of Tabernacles for the fifteenth day of the seventh month (Leviticus 23:34). Jeroboam moved his imitation feast to the fifteenth day of the eighth month (1 Kings 12:33). God appointed His preferred time. Jeroboam chose another that he thought was better or more accommodating.

The ancient Hebrew name for the seventh month was "Ethanim," which means "what is enduring, permanent, or steadily flowing." The eighth month was called "Bul," which is a name associated with "a block of wood." Jeroboam moved the feast of "lasting, enduring flowing brooks" to Bul, just "a block of wood."

I could not stop with only looking at the months' names. I investigated a bit deeper. I wanted to know who were the captains over those months. I found the answer in 1 Chronicles 27. The captain over the seventh month was "Helez," the Pelonite. The captain over the eighth month was "Sibbecai," the Hushathite. The name Helez means "strength, vigor, rescue, or deliverance." Sibbecai means "tangled, interwoven, or thicket-like." Did you notice the contrast?

The seventh (perfection) month, named "lasting, enduring, flowing brooks," with an overseer of "strength," shifted away to the eighth (new beginning) [not all new beginnings are good] month, that was a "block of wood" (no life) overseen by a "thicket." Paul said, "No man [person] that wars entangles himself with the affairs to this life" (2 Timothy 2:4).

Jeroboam did not stop there. He also changed the priesthood. First Kings 12:31 says he appointed priests who were “not of the sons of Levi.” 2 Chronicles 11:14–15 explains that the Levites left the northern kingdom because Jeroboam had removed them from their God-appointed service. He then appointed his own priests for the high places and false worship. 1 Kings 12:31 says, "...made priests of the lowest of the people..." The ministry is a vaunted position set up by God, but 1 Kings 13:31 stated that "whosoever would, he [Jeroboam] consecrated him." Instead of being called by God into the ministry, people called themselves into the position, and Jeroboam agreed.

Jeroboam was not the antichrist, but he was influenced by the evil spirit that comes only "to kill, steal, and destroy" (John 10:10). That same spirit will "...think to change times and laws..." in the last days (Daniel 7:25). But the question is, "Who has the right to change what God has already established?" God knows better.

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