Jeroboam’s story is told in 1 Kings 11:26-14:20
Jeroboam: The King Who Led Israel Astray
Some people in the Bible start off with great potential—but make choices that take them in the wrong direction. Jeroboam is one of those people. He was given a huge opportunity by God, but fear and pride led him down a path that harmed not only himself, but an entire nation.
Let’s take a closer look at Jeroboam’s story, what went wrong, and what we can learn from his life today.
Jeroboam’s Rise to Power
Jeroboam wasn’t born into royalty. He started out as a hard-working man under King Solomon, known for being capable and responsible. Solomon noticed his leadership skills and put him in charge of some important work (1 Kings 11:28).
But while Solomon’s kingdom looked strong on the outside, his heart had started to turn away from God. Because of Solomon’s disobedience, God decided to take part of the kingdom away from his family.
Through the prophet Ahijah, God told Jeroboam that he would become king over ten of the twelve tribes of Israel. God made a promise: “If you obey Me and follow My ways, I will build you a lasting dynasty” (paraphrased from 1 Kings 11:38). Jeroboam was chosen by God and had a fresh chance to lead well.
The Kingdom Divides
After Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became king. But Rehoboam made a big mistake—he refused to lighten the heavy taxes and labor Solomon had placed on the people. As a result, the people rebelled.
Ten of the twelve tribes broke away from the rule of David’s family and made Jeroboam their king. This was the beginning of the divided kingdom:
- Israel (the northern kingdom), ruled by Jeroboam
- Judah (the southern kingdom), ruled by Rehoboam
Jeroboam now had a new kingdom and a chance to lead the people in faithfulness to God. But that’s not what happened.
Jeroboam’s Major Mistake
Jeroboam started to worry. He thought, “If my people keep going to Jerusalem in Judah to worship at the temple, they might turn their hearts back to Rehoboam and kill me.”
So instead of trusting God’s promise, Jeroboam let fear guide his decisions.
He came up with a plan that went completely against God’s instructions:
- He made two golden calves and said, “Here are your gods, O Israel!” (1 Kings 12:28).
- He built places of worship in Bethel and Dan to keep the people from going to Jerusalem.
- He created his own priesthood and his own religious holidays.
In trying to protect his position, Jeroboam led the people into idol worship. This was a huge turning point—and not in a good way.
God’s Warning and Jeroboam’s Response
God didn’t stay silent. He sent a prophet to warn Jeroboam that his actions were wrong. The prophet even gave him a sign, but Jeroboam ignored the warning.
Later, when his son became sick, Jeroboam sent his wife in disguise to ask the prophet what would happen. The message from God was clear: because Jeroboam had turned away from God and led others into sin, his family would face judgment.
Even then, Jeroboam didn’t change. He stuck to his ways and continued leading Israel away from God.
Lessons from Jeroboam’s Life
Jeroboam’s story is a powerful reminder that how we respond to God’s direction matters. Here are a few lessons we can take from his life:
- God gives opportunities—but we have to follow Him. Jeroboam was given a great chance, but he threw it away by not trusting God.
- Fear can lead to bad choices. Jeroboam feared losing power, so he made decisions based on insecurity instead of faith.
- Leaders have influence. Jeroboam’s actions didn’t just affect him—they misled an entire nation.
- Disobedience has consequences. Even though Jeroboam was chosen by God, his disobedience brought pain to his family and his kingdom.
Final Thoughts
Jeroboam could have been remembered as a great king who trusted God and led the people well. Instead, he became known as the one who “caused Israel to sin”—a phrase repeated many times throughout the Bible.
His story challenges us to ask:
Are we trusting God with our future—or making fear-based choices that pull us away from Him?
Are we using the opportunities God gives us to lead others in the right direction?
Jeroboam’s life started with promise but ended with regret. Let’s learn from his mistakes—and choose to walk in faith and obedience, even when it’s hard.