If you listen to what I tell you

and follow my ways

and do whatever I consider to be right,

and if you obey

my decrees and commands,

as my servant David did,

then I will always be with you.

I will establish an enduring dynasty for you…

1 Kings 11:38

 

Words you could take to the bank—an offer straight from God Almighty to Jeroboam.

 

But at some point on the road to his enduring dynasty, Jeroboam blinked. Fear took over and he forgot God’s generous offer. He began to believe it all depended on him.

 

“Unless I am careful, the kingdom will return to the dynasty of David…they will kill me…”

 

So the king made two gold calves and told his people,

 

“…these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt!”

 

Liar, liar, pants on fire.

 

And with that, Jeroboam turned his back on the one true God. I wonder what he would’ve done differently, if he could have previewed the legacy he’d just endowed.

 

Because for the next 211 years, a variation of these words was divinely credited to each of the 18 kings who followed him:

 

…he did what was evil in the LORD’s sight and followed the example of Jeroboam.

 

LORD God in heaven, please help me not to blink.