Playing the Fool

The logical thing to do, the practice that is most politically correct, that which seems most socially acceptable and religiously appropriate will often bring ruin to a person and to a country. Take for instance the man, Jeroboam, who succeeded Solomon as the king of the ten tribes of northern Israel. Rehoboam, Solomon’s Son, was the king of the other two tribes, Judah and Benjamin. Jerusalem was the fortress and home base of Rehoboam, and Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim. One nation split into two. War was avoided for a while, but both kingdoms did what they had to do to hold on to their nations.

Jeroboam did not want his people to return to Jerusalem every year to offer sacrifices in the temple. He was afraid that his people would decide to stay and follow King Rehoboam. So he had two golden calves made, and set them in convenient locations to make their journey easier to worship thoes golden idol calves. He built shrines and appointed priests. What he did which seemed logical, religiously appropriate, certainly politically correct, and sociologically acceptable was an abomination to Holy God.

Unfortunately, Jeroboam’s plan seemed like a great idea to his subjects. It certainly made their worship practices easier. They thought, ‘What difference does it make which god we worship as long as we worship? As long as our sins are atoned for every year we are in good shape.’  Yet, they were committing spiritual suicide. And their selfish, foolish king had unknowingly panned his downfall. God gave him as chance to make things right, but the Bible says, “Jeroboam did not change his evil ways...This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth.” 1 Kings 13:33a-34

Jeroboam and all of his family did suffer a bitter end. And the ten tribes of his kingdom were overrun and taken into captivity by a cruel enemy. The way of Jeroboam is exactly where our nation is headed. We are buying into the ways of the pagan world. Our society and government by-passes wise decision making to maintain political correctness which becomes more absurd with each passing day. The common spiritual thought in our nation is “any god will do” and perhaps no god is better. Morality has been discarded to the trash heap. Good is being deemed as bad, bias, and foolish. Evil is good, fairer, and that which makes more sense. We are governed by fools and those who try to keep us on a wise course are being portrayed as the fools by the media.

We will not continue to prosper if we refuse to follow the Lord our God. His ways cannot be ignored. Remember this quote, “Make  sure your plans make “God sense” not just good sense.