Jeroboam, the man who caused Israel to sin (1 Kings 12: 27-30)

One day, Jeroboam (the king of Israel who split from the tribes of Judah & Benjamin) started thinking, "Everyone in Israel still goes to the temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the LORD. What if they become loyal to David's family again? They will kill me and accept Rehoboam (Solomon's son) as their king." Jeroboam asked for advice and then made two gold statues of calves. He showed them to the people and said, "Listen everyone! You won't have to go to Jerusalem to worship anymore. Here are your gods who rescued you from Egypt." Then he put one of them in the town of Bethel. He put the other in the town of Dan, and the crowd walked out in front as the calf was taken there. What Jeroboam did was a terrible sin. The northern kingdom of Israel split with Judah for hundreds of years. What Jeroboam did here was no small thing. In the New Testament Jesus says whoever causes one of these to sin would be better off if they had a millstone around their neck and thrown into the sea. The narrator to the Bible refers to Jeroboam as the one who caused Israel to sin. This worshiping in high places lasted throughout the tenure of Israel's existence. One may think that nobody could be so foolish. But then we underestimate the simple sheep without a shepherd. They don't know how to protect themself when trouble comes. Daily Prayer: Father, I too am foolish if it were not for the Good Shepherd in the person of Jesus Christ. All men are sinners in need of a savior. Nobody can save themself from the demons of this world but those who are received in the protection of Christ will be forgiven and protected. This is the Good News found in the gospel of grace. Amen.