The Fruit of Thoughts: Lessons from King Jeroboam

Jeroboam had a troubling thought. His thought was private. He came up with a private solution of far-reaching consequences. Thoughts are like seeds; they cause something to be produced: fruit. We have to be careful of how we handle our thoughts as well as what we do as a result of our thoughts.

• Jeroboam was the King of Judah. One day, he allowed his mind to wander and then to wonder. He thought that if the Israelites (who had been split into two kingdoms because of Solomon’s wickedness) went to Jerusalem to worship, they might all begin to have a desire to be ruled by the house of David, Rehoboam.

1 Kings 12:26-30 King James Version

26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: 27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. 28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.

• There was a problem with Jeroboam’s thought. The thought came from his ego, from a desire for self-preservation. It was built on his imagination. There is a problem with the imagination of man in general.

Genesis 6:5 King James Version

5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Genesis 8:21 King James Version

21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

• Jeroboam did not have a reason to wonder about what was going to happen. Because God had already told Jeroboam, through the prophet Ahijah, that because of the evil of Solomon, He had torn the kingdom from the House of David. God told Jeroboam that he would rule ten out of the twelve tribes of Israel.

1 Kings 11:29-32 New Living Translation

29 One day as Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh met him along the way. Ahijah was wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone in a field, 30 and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces. 31 Then he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten of these pieces, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and I will give ten of the tribes to you! 32 But I will leave him one tribe for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel. 33 For Solomon has abandoned me and worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians; Chemosh, the god of Moab; and Molech, the god of the Ammonites. He has not followed my ways and done what is pleasing in my sight. He has not obeyed my decrees and regulations as David his father did.

• · God does not and cannot lie. Jeroboam did indeed become king over Israel.

1 Kings 12:20 New Living Translation

20 When the people of Israel learned of Jeroboam’s return from Egypt, they called an assembly and made him king over all Israel. So only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the family of David.

• · But still, Jeroboam had a thought. That thought did not follow the divine word of prophecy that was given to him from God. This thought arose from his personal imagination and his personal understanding. Somewhere along the way, Jeroboam either forgot that prophecy or he began to doubt the word of God. A seed was planted in his mind that he could lose what God had promised and, actually, had already delivered to him. Why doubt God’s promise when the blessing is already in your hands? A seed of doubt in God had been planted; egoism and self-confidence sprouted. The fruit of disobedience followed rather than the peace of God. Jeroboam’s thought caused him to sin by building idols, and he caused the people to sin by having them to worship the idols. God holds us accountable for what we do and what we cause others to do as well. We should strive to please God, and if we influence someone, let our influence be pleasing to God. We should strive to sow righteous fruit, because we will reap what we sow.

1 Kings 12:28-30 New Living Translation

28 So on the advice of his counselors, the king made two gold calves. He said to the people, “It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem. Look, Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt!” 29 He placed these calf idols in Bethel and in Dan—at either end of his kingdom. 30 But this became a great sin, for the people worshiped the idols, traveling as far north as Dan to worship the one there.

1 Kings 16:2 New Living Translation

“I lifted you up from the dust and appointed you ruler over my people Israel, but you followed the ways of Jeroboam and caused my people Israel to sin and to arouse my anger by their sins.

Proverbs 1:31, 33 New Living Translation

Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes. But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.

Philippians 1:10-11 KJV

That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Jeroboam's thought process was limited by his natural capabilities, knowledge, and understanding. His solution to the problem that he imagined that he had caused him to sin, as well as the people that he led. We must be careful not to allow our imagination to lead us to err and cause others to err. The will of God, along with the unending power, wisdom, and dominion of God, is enough to set things in order, the way God wants them. Let God be God, and let our efforts and work be in line with his will for us, his calling, his purpose. We need to know that our calling and election are sure, that we have been chosen by God for the work we are doing. We must put our trust in God and not be afraid of what we think people may do (Psalm 56:4). God is faithful to those he calls (1 Thessalonians 5:24) and will establish us and keep us from evil (2 Thessalonians 3:3). If God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. We give you glory and praise for your many blessings. We ask that you have mercy on us and forgive our sins. Help us to be led by you. Help us to listen to your word, subscribe to it, be attentive to it, believe it, follow it, and hide it in our hearts. Your word and Spirit are the light that we need on our journey through this world, which is so dark with sin and sinful influences. Give us strength. Give us wisdom, help us to be obedient to your word and your Spirit. Let your Spirit search the deep places of our hearts and minds. Tear down every idol present in our lives. Purify our hearts and minds and help us to guard our hearts. Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in your sight. We want your Spirit to live in us and work through us. Let our thoughts, intentions, and influence on others demonstrate the fruits of righteousness in Jesus Christ. We pray this in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus, and we give you glory and praise forever. Amen.