Why did Jeroboam instruct his wife to disguise herself in 1 Kings 14:2? Setting the Scene • 1 Kings 14:2: “So Jeroboam said to his wife, ‘Please arise, disguise yourself so no one will recognize you as the wife of Jeroboam. Go to Shiloh, where Ahijah the prophet is—he is the one who told me I would be king over this people.’” • Ahijah had earlier delivered God’s promise that Jeroboam would rule ten tribes (1 Kings 11:29-38). • Since then, Jeroboam introduced the golden-calf shrines at Bethel and Dan, leading Israel into sin (1 Kings 12:28-30). Jeroboam’s Troubled Conscience • He knew he had provoked the LORD by idolatry. • His son Abijah’s sudden illness (1 Kings 14:1) signaled divine displeasure. • Instead of repenting, he resorted to scheming—evidence of a guilty, fearful heart (cf. Proverbs 28:1). The Disguise: What Jeroboam Hoped to Gain • Avoid Recognition – If Ahijah realized she was the queen, the prophet might immediately confront Jeroboam’s sin. • Gain Sympathy – A humble, “unknown” petitioner bringing simple gifts (“ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey,” v. 3) might evoke a softer word. • Manipulate the Message – Jeroboam treated prophecy as something negotiable, thinking he could steer the outcome by controlling appearances. • Conceal Royal Responsibility – By masking their identity, they hoped to separate the king’s guilt from the boy’s need, as though the two were unrelated. Why the Scheme Could Never Work • God’s Omniscience – “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight” (Hebrews 4:13). – Psalm 139:1-4 declares the LORD knows every thought and word before it is spoken. • Divine Revelation Overrides Human Limits – Although Ahijah’s physical eyesight had failed (1 Kings 14:4), the LORD revealed Jeroboam’s plot to him in advance (v. 5). • Sin Cannot Be Masked – 1 Samuel 16:7: “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” – Attempts to cover sin only deepen judgment (Proverbs 28:13). The Outcome • Ahijah greeted her by name, exposing the disguise (1 Kings 14:6). • The message was not softened but intensified: judgment on Jeroboam’s house, removal of his dynasty, and captivity for Israel (vv. 7-16). • The very child whose healing they sought would die, yet be the only family member to receive a decent burial because “in him there is found something pleasing to the LORD” (v. 13). Key Takeaways • Disguise stemmed from fear, guilt, and unbelief—not faith or repentance. • God cannot be deceived; He sees through every mask. • Substituting manipulation for repentance always leads to harsher consequences. Relevant Cross-References • Numbers 32:23—“Be sure your sin will find you out.” • Isaiah 29:15—“Woe to those who go deep to hide their plans from the LORD.” • Galatians 6:7—“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked.” |
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