Jeroboam

One of the most influential people in the Bible was king Jeroboam. His legacy dominated Israel for centuries. Almost all Israelites followed his example. Throughout the Old Testament, king after king followed Jeroboam’s ways, leading the people of God into a ditch. Ultimately, the sin of Jeroboam caused Israel to lose their nation and go into captivity.

What was the sin of Jeroboam?

Jeroboam decided to make up his own ways of worshiping God. One of the first things he did after becoming king was to make two new altars. He put golden cows on these altars (1 Kings 12:33) and told everyone to worship God at these altars using these cows. Almost everyone did.

When we read of holy cows in the Bible, we often think of Baal. But Jeroboam’s cows had nothing to do with Baal. These cows were used to worship the true God.

Ahab, not Jeroboam, later introduced Baal worship to Israel (1 Kings 16:31). In addition, when Jehu destroyed Baal worship from Israel, he didn’t destroy Jeroboam’s cows (2 Kings 10:28-29). 

Jeroboam’s cows had nothing to do with Baal, they were being used to worship the true God – Yahweh.

The people trusted Jeroboam. He was their beloved king and leader, and they thought he knew what he was talking about. “If the king says that we can worship God using golden cows, then we must be able to. Who are we to know more than him?” 

Jeroboam’s new worship style became very popular.

The people probably didn’t read their Bibles for themselves. If they did, they would have known that God never told them to worship him using cows. But even if they did read their Bibles, they probably didn’t think it would be wrong to make up some new ways to worship. They probably thought that some of these things Moses had talked about had passed away and weren’t applicable anymore.

Jeroboam decided to make up his own holiday, replete with man-made religious traditions. This holiday became popular. Even though it was found nowhere in the Bible, the people didn’t care. It was about God, so they thought it must be ok.

Jeroboam decided to make his own priests (1 Kings 13:33). He didn’t care if they were really chosen by God or not. If they wanted to serve God, they could. “Why should anyone be stopped from serving God?” Jeroboam said that whoever wanted to become a priest could become one. A little training, and they would be ready to lead praise and worship.

The problem was, God hated this new religion. It wasn’t based on the word of God. It was based on human ideas. It was man-made. God said it would all be judged and destroyed. 

No one really really seemed to care. There were a few prophets who spoke against this wickedness, but their voices were drowned out by the crowd.

The spiritual reality behind Jeroboam’s religion was shocking. People were worshiping Satan at these altars, even though they thought they were worshiping God. God said that they were worshiping other gods there (1 Kings 14:9). He said they were worshiping demons (2 Chron. 11:15).

Worshiping God according to human ideas is vain worship, according to Jesus. It’s demonic. Jesus said, “in vain do you worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7).

The example of Jeroboam is written down in the Bible as a lesson to us (1 Cor. 10:11).

God commanded us not to add to his word. He doesn’t want us to make up our own ways of worshiping. He wants us to obey his word and do things in his way.

The word of God is the final standard by which all Christianity must be judged. We need to read the Bible for ourselves, understand what it says, and do it.

The sin of Jeroboam teaches us the importance of the word of God.
Don’t blindly follow leaders, even if they are famous. 
Don’t blindly follow religious traditions, even if they are popular and have been around for centuries. 
Don’t blindly run after the crowd. 

Follow the word of God. This is the only path to abundant life. Without the Bible, religion is dead and pointless.