1 Kings 15:30

Baasha made sure that none of Jeroboam's descendants would challenge him. He killed them all. On his part this was vicious cruelty. But by killing them he fulfilled the word of the Lord spoken through Ahijah the prophet (v.29). Ahijah had given the message of judgment to Jeroboam's wife (ch.14:10-11) to pass on to Jeroboam. Verse 30 is a reminder that this judgment was because of Jeroboam's many sins by which he made Israel sin, provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger.

Jeroboam stands out in the Old Testament as the great division maker. Under him the great mass of God's people, ten of the twelve tribes, broke away from God's centre at that time. Like a death knell, the Spirit describes this man again and again with the same sad words: "Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin." One chapter alone repeats it four times (2 Kings 15:9, 18, 24, 28). There is something appalling about it. This special way of speaking marks out how terrible this man's sin is in God's sight. Every true heart feels how awful it is. Personal sins are bad enough, but to turn away God's people from the centre which He has set up — what could be worse?

Scripture charges Jeroboam with doing evil above all who had been before him, and his doings became a proverb. For Israel to sin "as Jeroboam the son of Nebat" was a mark of complete wickedness.

Instead of asking God, Jeroboam "took counsel," clearly from men, and the result was the setting up of the two golden calves, one at Dan in the far north, and the other at Bethel. Some argue that Jeroboam was really worshipping the Lord, but with the help of visible images. People urge this today to excuse blatant idolatry. The Bible does not support this. It says plainly: "Then this thing became a sin." God does not need an image to enable men to worship Him. In fact, Scripture condemns the very idea from start to finish.

What Jeroboam introduced was a lasting dishonour to the Lord until He removed Israel from the land. Eighteen kings sat on Israel's throne after Jeroboam. Of almost every one the record says the same thing: he followed, or did not turn from, the ways of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin.

Position and privilege increase responsibility. If a priest or a ruler sinned, he had to bring a larger sacrifice than one of the common people (Leviticus 4)... Whenever leaders go astray, the results are more serious. Leaders have more influence, both for good and for evil... A private Christian who falls into error or immorality influences only his own circle. But if a well-known teacher in the Church leaves the way of truth, he often draws thousands after him into his own evil path.

Baasha was God's instrument of judgment to wipe out the house of Jeroboam. Now he had to face the same judgment he had handed out. It is easy, we find, to condemn others and deal harshly with them for their sins. How solemn when we then go ahead and repeat the same sins ourselves! This is no trifling matter before God.