Following the death of Solomon, his son Rehoboam became king. He tried to rule with an iron fist and the people rejected him. Only Judah stayed loyal to him; the rest of Israel made Solomon’s servant Jeroboam. Afraid that the people would return to Rehoboam if they went to Jerusalem to worship God, Jeroboam made two golden calves and placed them in Israel’s high places. God sent a prophet from Judah to Jeroboam, but he refused to repent of his evil ways, so he was cut off and disaster was brought to his family. Judah also began to worship other gods, but King Asa led them back to God. There was constant war between Israel and Judah. Israel’s kings continued to become wicked and God raised up the prophet Elijah to prophesy to them. Elijah told King Ahab that
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| God demonstrates His power on Mount Carmel by sending fire from heaven to consume the bull. |
there would be a drought until he commanded it to rain. Even in God’s judgment, he provided for a widow and her son. After a time, Elijah appeared to Ahab and challenged him and the prophets of Baal and Ashtoreth to a showdown on Mount Carmel, where God demonstrated His power. Elijah killed the prophets of these gods and God sent rain on the land. Instead of repenting Ahab and his wife Jezebel sought to kill Elijah. When Jezebel has a man killed so that Ahab can have his vineyard, God curses Ahab but Ahab repents of this sin and God spares him. Yet he continued to be evil and died during a battle when he was dressed as a common soldier. While Israel had repeatedly evil kings, Judah had righteous kings Asa and Jehoshaphat.
After Solomon died, Israel was split into two kingdoms. His son Rehoboam was king of the southern kingdom of Judah, but Solomon’s servant Jeroboam was king over the other ten tribes of Israel. Jeroboam led Israel into sin, establishing worship of other gods. When Judah started to do the same, King Asa led them back to God. Israel’s kings were all evil, while Judah had two righteous kings. The two nations were frequently at war with one another. God made Elijah a prophet in Israel when Ahab was king. Elijah challenged Ahab for leading the people in sin. He had a famous confrontation on top of Mount Carmel where God showed His power to his people. Ahab was married to an evil woman named Jezebel, who kept leading him back to sin. Ahab died in battle while in disguise. His son became king after him. He was also evil, worshipping Baal and angering God.
It is commonly said, “As the king goes, so goes the nation.” This was evident in the contrast between the kingdoms of Judah and Israel. Israel was a nation whose king was not from the line of David. Israel’s kings were evil, leading the nation to worship idols. Because of their sin, Israel’s kings had short reigns and short lives. In contrast, Judah had two godly kings and their reigns were relatively long. As a father, my family could be considered as my kingdom. The goal for my “kingdom” is to lead as a righteous father. If I try to lead on my own and doing what I want, I will not lead them in a godly way. I must submit myself to God and allow his plans to lead me and my family. As the father goes, so goes the family.
Joel McReynolds 
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