09.14.2025 | Israel’s Evil Kings
1 Kings 14–15; 2 Chronicles 12–13
Did you know there are thousands of different types of road signs around the world? These signs—like stop signs, speed limit signs, and road hazard signs—are all designed to keep people safe. There’s even a llama crossing sign in the country of Bolivia! Can you imagine the chaos if these signs weren’t there? Or even worse, think about what would happen if the signs were giving the wrong instructions—like telling you to “Go” instead of “Stop”!
Over and over, God instructed His people to remember His power and faithfulness. Instead of pointing the Israelites to the one true God, Jeroboam pointed the people away from God. Jeroboam led the people to worship false gods. Even after God sent a prophet to confront Jeroboam about his sin, Jeroboam continued to sin against God. Ultimately, his disobedience would lead to the destruction of his kingdom.
Like a bad road sign that leads to chaos, our sin leads us away from God and breaks our relationship with Him. Ultimately, our disobedience leads to eternal separation from God. Thankfully, God loved us—even while we were sinners—enough to send Jesus as the one to rescue us and lead us back to God.
The first kings of Israel led the people to disobey God and to worship idols. Israel’s kings suffered the consequences of their sin. We all sin when we disobey God and worship other things. Jesus died and rose again to pay for our sin and bring us back to God.
