You are forgiven of your sin and reconciled to God. By His mercy, God made you His child and has given you the life of Jesus. These are the greatest treasures a person could have, but they are all gifts received by grace. So then, from where do pride and boasting come? Can you imagine God picking a man that was far from the throne of Israel and making him a king, only for him to turn against God? God sends His servant to give His Word to him, and this man, Jeroboam, arrogantly stretches forth his hand towards the man of God to arrest him. His hand withered, and he pleaded with the man of God for restoration. The servant of God prayed, and because God is merciful, He restored his hand (1 Kg 13:4).
Jeroboam was a servant of King Solomon, to whom God promised to give ten out of the twelve tribes of Israel because Solomon had forsaken God to worship idols. (1 king 11). When Jeroboam became king, he did not obey the Lord even though God promised to bless him. He stopped the people from going to Jerusalem to worship God and instead built two golden calves and set them in Bethel and Dan. He asked his people to worship his gods in these two towns because he feared the people would turn and follow Rehoboam (Solomon’s son). In doing this, he sinned against God. While Jeroboam was standing by the altar at Bethel to make an offering, God sent a prophet from Judah to prophesy against the altar’s destruction and the priests serving on it. Jeroboam got annoyed and stretched his hand to order his servants to arrest the man of God, but his hand withered.
Do you realise how weak and puny humans are? They might look big and resilient in their eyes because of the position, office, or power that has come their way. However, if they can remember, there was a time when they were children that were not fit to be what they are now. They had to be allowed to live and grow to become what they are today. They should be humble and give all the glory to God for lifting them. No matter how big or powerful a person becomes, they are nothing, powerless, and can be brought to their knees in the blink of an eye. Human attainment is tenuous, so it is funny as it quickly perishes when founded on pride. God would restore those who come to Him with a humble heart and set them to the glory He gave them if they messed it up.
