Imagine the terror Jereboam must have felt when he stretched out his hand to point at the
prophet and all the muscles in his arm shriveled up so that he couldn't move it. Not only
that, but Jereboam knew in his heart that the message of the prophet against him was true.
Just to confirm the truth of the message, at the same time that Jereboams arm was
shriveled, the altar to his false God split in two and all the ashes poured out.
This was a crossroads moment for Jereboam. He could choose to ignore God or turn back to
him. Jereboam's first words to the man of God were, "Intercede with the LORD your God
and pray for me that my hand may be restored." (1 Kings 13 v 6). But any commitment
Jereboam might have made was short lived. "Even after this, Jereboam did not change his
evil ways." (v 33).
If we, like Jereboam, are brought to our knees by trouble from God, let's listen to him,
change our ways and start living to please him.
