The Danger of Not Standing on the Promises of God

A fatherless, an ordinary official was chosen as a king over ten tribes of Israel. The LORD God Himself promised to Jeroboam. The Lord would like to build him a dynasty as enduring as the one He built for David and would give Israel to him. Even He would humble David's descendants because of this, but not forever. It was a great honor and grace, what a perfect promised blessing that Jeroboam got from the Lord!

"However, as for you, I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Israel. If you do whatever I command you and walk in my ways and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you. I will humble David's descendants because of this, but not forever." (1 Kings 11:37-39)

Although the Lord had fulfilled His promises when Israel made him king over all Israel, Jeroboam did not stand on His promises. Instead of thanking God and walk in His ways, Jeroboam had his own mind.

Jeroboam thought to himself, "The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam. (1 Kings 12:26-27)

Jeroboam felt insecure regarding his own throne. He did not realize that his throne was God's given gift. Then no one could take his throne without God's permission. Feeling insecure, Jeroboam did not seek God but advice from his people. Then he made two golden calves to be worshiped, so the Israelites did not need to go up to Jerusalem anymore.

From what Jeroboam did, we can see the danger of not standing on the promises of God.

1. Insecurity

When we do not stand on the Lord's promises in our life. We easily feel insecure. We easily worry about tomorrow. We fear of losing what we value and everything that is precious in our lives. We fear of losing our beloved ones, carrier, money, position, power, etc. We forget that unless the LORD builds house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat- for he grants sleep to those he loves. (Psalm 127:1-2)

2. Seeking wrong advice / against the Lord

When we do not stand on God's promises, we do not trust in Him. In this condition, we will not seek the Lord if we feel insecure, worry, and fear. Instead, we will seek advice that not comes from the Lord. Any advice that is not based on God's words must be against Him, no matter how good it is. In this way we will no longer follow His ways. We will be against Him.

3. Do evil.

When we continue to not trusting the Lord and standing on His promises, we will do evil. Jeroboam did evil by leading the Israelites to do sin. Jeroboam made them worshiped other gods and idols. He did this sin just to overcome his insecurity. He wanted to protect his throne in his own way, which was against God's ways. 

4. Disaster.

"Because of this, I am going to bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam."

How scary it is! Because Jeroboam did not stand on God's promises, he got disaster. God would cut off from Jeroboam every last male in Israel - slave or free. Jeroboam also lost his son, Abijah (read 1 Kings 14). His whole family was destroyed later when Baasha began to reign as a king. Baasha killed Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, his successor.

As soon as he began to reign, he killed Jeroboam's whole family. He did not leave Jeroboam anyone that breathed, but destroyed them all, according to the word of the LORD given through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite - because of the sins Jeroboam had committed and had caused Israel to commit, and because he provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger. (1 Kings 15:29-30)

Jeroboam failed to put his trust in the Lord. Therefore, Jeroboam failed to keep God's commands and follow Him wholeheartedly. He failed to do only what is right in God's eyes. Instead of having a dynasty as enduring as the one The Lord built for David, Jeroboam got his whole family destroyed.

Jeroboam is a perfect reflection of who we are. We all want to have a secure, abundant life. We often doubt that our lives are in God's hands so that we worry about anything. We feel insecure if what we want and what we need are not provided right now. We feel insecure where there is no guarantee that what we have will be last, although God has promised us that He will not leave us alone.

When God calls us to do what He wants, we often worry about tomorrow. We worry about clothes, food, drink, whom to marry, children, future, etc. How little is our faith! Jesus told us to not worry. 

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:32-33)

Everything we have and what we need to have in the future are in God's hands. If He did not spare His own son but gave Jesus Christ to us, what else that He would not give us? He gave us His promises and He would like to fulfill them. If we put our trust in Him, we will be able to focus ourselves in seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness. If we stand on His promises, we will be able to do whatever He commands us to do and walk in His ways. If we are faithful to Him, we will win and get to see His promises fulfilled in our lives.

Now if God calls you to do His mission, just obey and trust that He will provide everything that you need. Without any doubt, let us now stand on God's promises and focusing ourselves to live in the way He wants us to live.