Leadership the Bible Way - Part Eleven
Profiles in Leadership: Jeroboam, the Son of Nebat
Editor’s Note:
Today, we are publishing our first guest post on The Ministry of the Word.
Rev. Tokunbo Adejuwon writes about Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, and the danger of insecurity in leadership. This fits the heart of our “Leadership the Bible Way” series. Scripture does not record the lives of leaders to entertain us. It records them for our learning.
Jeroboam received a kingdom by the judgement of God. Yet he tried to secure by sin what God had given by grace.
Read carefully. There is a warning here for every leader.
Jeroboam received a kingdom by the judgement of God. Yet he tried to secure by compromise what God had given by grace.
Romans 15:4 (KJV)
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Jeroboam the son of Nebat is quite an interesting person. His insecurity ruined him.
Solomon married 700 wives and had 300 concubines. He multiplied wives to himself which is something an Israelite king wasn’t to do.
Deuteronomy 17:17 (KJV)
17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
But he didn’t just stop there, he married strange women who turned his heart away from God, another thing a Jew wasn’t to do.
1 Kings 11:4 (KJV)
4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
Despite the fact that God appeared to him twice, Solomon due to the influence of these women began to follow idols and as a result, God’s judgement came on him that the kingdom would be taken from his son and split with his servant.
1 Kings 11:11 (KJV)
11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.
Why didn’t Solomon repent when he heard this? Instead, he sought to kill Jeroboam who fled for his life.
1 Kings 11:40 (KJV)
40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.
10 tribes were later taken from Rehoboam, Solomon’s son and given to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
Isn’t it interesting that Jeroboam too began doing the same thing, idolatry even on a higher level in a bid to keep the people loyal to him and not return to Rehoboam. How foolish!
1 Kings 12:28 (KJV)
28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
There was a sin that made Solomon’s son lose the kingdom and gave Jeroboam the opportunity to receive the kingdom. That same sin was the sin that Jeroboam embraced eagerly.
This just makes one to wonder. God gave it to him. Wasn’t it serving that same God and obeying Him that would cause him to keep it?
But Jeroboam’s insecurity drove him to foolishness.
1 Kings 12:26-27 (KJV)
26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
Now, it’s easy to condemn Jeroboam’s actions and attitude. But don’t we sometimes do the same thing and fall for the same lie of the devil?
Let’s learn from Jeroboam. It’s God Who maintains our lot.
Psalm 16:5 (KJV)
5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
Our security and sense of worth and importance and value is in Christ. And it’s in serving and obeying God that we find maximum fulfilment and satisfaction.
Jeroboam the son of Nebat later became a reference point for evil in Israel and Judah among the kings that later reigned. How pathetic!
God maintains our lot! And we need to be utterly sold out to obeying Him with our whole heart.
It doesn’t cost to serve God, it pays!
About the Author:
Rev. Tokunbo Adejuwon graduated from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He also graduated from Rhema Bible Training Centre as well as Rhema Correspondence Bible School.
He was ordained by Pastor & Mrs. Kenneth W. Hagin and is credentialed with Rhema Ministerial Association International, USA.
He additionally successfully completed the Senior Management Programme of Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria.
He currently serves in Rhema Bible Training Centre, Nigeria as the National Director, with campuses in Abuja (National Headquarters), Port Harcourt, Kaduna (English & Hausa campuses), Nasarawa, Ikeja Lagos, Lagos Island, Enugu, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife and University of Ilorin.
He has been in the ministry for 40 years. He has helped pioneer works, pastored, served in administrative roles and now itinerates both nationally and internationally.
He preaches and teaches God’s Word with passionate fervor especially on the subjects of faith and healing. He’s also very strong on following and flowing with the Holy Spirit.
Brother Toks, as he is fondly called is happily married to Dr. Akunna and they have 3 lovely children. They are based in Abuja, Nigeria.