Jeroboam’s Wife

Disguise yourself, that they may not recognize you as the wife of Jeroboam.

1 Kings 14:2

Israel’s King Jeroboam was worried. He wanted a dynasty, and his son—his heir—was sick. Despite his own hardened heart, Jeroboam knew that the Lord God had the answers of life and death, and he desperately wanted to consult a prophet of Jehovah. Evidently, however, he didn’t want his subjects to know he’d been reduced to seeking help from God, so he told his wife to disguise herself and visit the prophet.

The Lord’s man was not fooled, however. “Come in, wife of Jeroboam,” he boomed. “Why do you pretend to be another person?” (14:6). The prophet then issued a message of judgment on her household for their evil ways.

How easy to practice secret sins and then attend church on Sunday without anyone suspecting. We can display humble faces and appear to be injured victims when, in reality, we’re trying to manipulate the opinions of others. We can act with innocence toward our spouses while flirting with coworkers at the office.

But the Lord sees.

That should truly be both a great comfort to us and a great stimulus for purity.

Lord, remind me that You know every thought, test every heart, know every motive, and love every soul!