Why Would Jeroboam Seek To Change God's Pattern?

Generally, people do not like to be told what they can or cannot do. This concept applies to both childhood and adulthood. In regard to childhood, do you know of any children who like to be told not to touch things such as stovetops or irons? And what about adults? Are you aware of any adults who enjoy being told they cannot take a vacation? In a vast majority of these cases, people would rather rebel against authority instead of submitting to it, and while temporal consequences result from such cases, it is the underlying attitude that poses the greatest consequence.
The attitude to which we refer is the thought that "I know what is best for me. No one can boss me around!" This creates a fierce desire for independence from any and all authority

Jeroboam, the first northern king, decided to modify God's pattern of worship in the Mosaic Law so he could preserve his kingdom. He modified things such as the object of worship, the place of worship, and the manner of worship, causing Israel to fall into idolatry (1 Ki. 12:28-33). But we must now ask a question: why would Jeroboam seek to change God's pattern? The answer to this question is found in the final verse of the chapter under consideration, which states that Jeroboam offered sacrifices on a day "which he had devised in his own heart" (1 Ki. 12:33). The reason Jeroboam made all of these modifications was because he wanted to do it. He had elevated himself above God and saw his own inventions as superior to

We may not see people bowing down to physical statues or offering sacrifices to golden cows, but we do see people who occupy a seat on Sunday morning that do not submit to God's authority. Friends, we must understand that Christ is the head of the church in every respect, not just some (Eph. 1:22-23). Because of this fact, He has a right to tell us what we can and cannot do in our lives, and we do not have the authority to suggest otherwise. There are far too many Christians who refuse to submit to the Lord's ordinances, and like Jeroboam and the northern kingdom, they stiffen their necks and reject His statues. On a more positive note, those who submit to Christ's authority can have that blessed assurance that accompanies obedience, for the Lord has said that He will save all who obey Him (Jn. 14:15; Heb. 5:9). May we always submit to Christ's authority and seek to obey His every commandment, even if it means sacrificing our own