1. What was God’s promise to Jeroboam? how was it different than God’s promise to David?

God promised that Jeroboam would have 10 tribes in the North. God promised Jeroboam a sure house and that he would reign over all his soul desired. That’s a pretty amazing promise! But, it was a conditional promise, which meant that God would do this only if Jeroboam was faithful to God’s law. If Jeroboam obeyed Deuteronomy, God would do this for him. This was different than David because God made his promised to David independently from David’s faithfulness to the law.

2. What did Rehoboam do that was so foolish that caused the kingdom to split?

Rehoboam listened to the counsel of the young men around him instead of the wisdom from the old men. He spoke harshly to the people of Israel saying he would make their burden heavier than his father, Solomon. This caused 10 of the tribes to succeed to form the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

3. How many soldiers did Rehoboam have ready to fight Israel? Why did they not go to battle?

Rehoboam gathered 180,000 soldiers from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go and fight their brothers. God specifically brought a word through a prophet saying that Israel should not have a civil war because this was a punishment against Solomon and Rehoboam, and a blessing to Jeroboam that God promised.

4. What did Jeroboam do for Israel to fall into Idolatry? What other story does this remind you of?

Jeroboam made two golden calves and set them up in Dan and in Bethel so that the people of Israel would go back to Jerusalem and worship God and have their hearts turn back to Rehoboam. Jeroboam feared for his life and for his kingdom instead of trusting in God’s promise to him. This should remind you of Exodus 32 when Israel committed idolatry.

5. What was God’s punishment for Jeroboam?

God brought a just punishment on Jeroboam by saying he would cut off every male from Jeroboam’s house, cause them to not be buried, and Jeroboam and his house would no longer rule in Israel.

6. What does this story teach us about God?

It teaches us that God is SOVEREIGN over all of these things. Nothing can stop or thwart God’s plan. It teaches us that God is JUST. God will bring righteous judgment in his timing. His judgment will eventually come, and his judgment is meant to lead us to repent from our sins and trust in Christ. It teaches us that God ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES. God will keep his promise to David no matter what. God will keep his kingdom and he will promise to send a messiah from David’s line. God keeps his promise to judge, show mercy, keep his promises, and will never fail.

7. How is Jesus a better king than Jeroboam and Rehoboam?

Jesus will give us true rest. Jesus is a king that will not give us commands that he won’t give us the strength to follow them. His commands are not burdensome. His yoke is easy, and his burden is light. He will give us the rest that Solomon and Rehoboam never could or wanted to. Jesus will never cut us out of his family. If we are in Jesus, and have trusted in him as Savior and Lord, he will never cut us off from his family like what happened to Jeroboam. Jesus will make sure that none of his sheep are lost. He will raise every single person who trusts in him up on the last day.