1 Kings 14:1
At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became ill.
My dad was a drunkard before he became a pastor. Nope, not before he heard the truth, but even after he knew God’s grace and salvation. He was already serving as a deacon in church when a member caught him in one of the intersections of Ortigas Avenue extension, mimicking a traffic enforcer, heavily drunk. It was his most embarrassing moment. But it did not stop him from sneaking some more beers. Not even discipline from his leaders. Guess who did? God sent the little me to the hospital - with bronchopneumonia - to shake my father’s core. Many said I was then a cute, chubby, cheerful girl to everyone’s delight. It was seeing me helpless and heavily breathing that pushed my dad to come to terms with God. He vowed to give up everything, and give his life to Him, in exchange for my healing. God did! And there was no turning back for my father since then.
Jeroboam was at the peak of his sin when we closed chapter 13. He continued leading Israel to idol worship and consecrated a-n-y-o-n-e who wanted to become priests. If in Eli’s time, we see the desecration of the temple by the sins of the supposedly pure ones, here we read the unpure ones leading. Imagine the implication :< It was so detestable that God sent a message of the coming destruction of that altar and all who attends to it. But that did not stop Jeroboam. Neither did the death of that man of God for o-n-e disobedience. Now we read of his son’s illness. That caught his attention. He sent his wife to Ahijah the prophet, with some gifts, but in disguise. Funny that Jeroboam thought a makeover would be relevant to an already blind prophet. Foolish too, for thinking that God could not make Ahijah recognize the queen. What is sad, aside from his should-be personal appearance, is that the visit was not in any way to come to terms with God. Jeroboam would just want to know what God has to say regarding his son, period. It’s like calling God to aid in our financial burdens, but blocking His hand in our career issues. What is more sad is that even after hearing death for his son and destruction for his line, he neither repented nor pleaded at least. He was far worse than Pharaoh’s hard heart for in the death of his son, he yielded to God’s will to let His people go. Jeroboam continued to sin and took all Israel with him. He was said to be the prototype of an evil king. I say, he was the worst father too :<
Our children are our soft spots. They are the ultimate test of life’s contentment, hopes and priorities. No ransom is too high as payment for their safety. No name or influence matters in defending their cause. If only possible, we’d trade places in their sickness and pains. But how come all of us still live sinful lives? God did make it clear that He will punish the children for the sin of their fathers to the third and fourth generations. We are directly accountable for our individual sins, but guess who first gets affected when debts, immorality or addiction haunts us? You want some consolation? Jeroboam’s sick son was an upright one. God’s grace saw it fit to take him first and be honored with a state burial before every male was cut off in Jeroboam’s line. No loving parents would find that comforting - - and so would change their ways. I wonder if Eve would reconsider taking that bite if Abel was alive that time? Moreso if she knew how sin would take hold of Cain too. It was a choice of raising her kids inside the garden or out in the wastelands. Oh please think a hundred times before that bite! Do spare the children from reaping those bad seeds :<
No comments:
Post a Comment