Originally posted: 2/22/2020

Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise now, and disguise yourself so that they will not know that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh; behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who spoke concerning me that I would be king over this people,” (14:2).

I couldn’t help wondering how long it took Jeroboam’s wife to ready herself for her trip to see the prophet. And I wondered if while she meticulously labored to camouflage her identity, did she have any doubts if her scheme would be successful?

And perhaps if she were presenting herself before a mere man, their plan would have worked. But in reality, she had to have known. She was being sent to the prophet, who had already been authenticated, as his prophecy concerning Jeroboam had already been fulfilled.

…Ahijah the prophet is there, who spoke concerning me that I would be king over this people,” (14:2).

But still she went in her disguise, most certainly filled with hope she would hear a positive outcome regarding her stricken child.

“Take ten loaves with you, some cakes and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy,” (14:3).

And though the old prophet could not see her image mattered not; for before she even arrived, He would Detect her Deception.

Now the Lord had said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. You shall say thus and thus to her, for it will be when she arrives that she will pretend to be another woman,” (14:5).

Consider Him Who Detects Our Deception

• He Detects Our Deception in Our Disguises
  • “Arise now, and disguise yourself so that they will not know that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh; behold, Ahijah the prophet is there… ⁶ When Ahijah heard the sound of her feet coming in the doorway, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam, why do you pretend to be another woman?” (14:2, 6).

• He Detects Our Deception in Our Devotion
  • “…yet you have not been like My servant David, who kept My commandments and who followed Me with all his heart, to do only that which was right in My sight; ⁹ you also have done more evil than all who were before you, and have gone and made for yourself other gods and molten images to provoke Me to anger, and have cast Me behind your back—” (14:8-9).

• He Detects Our Deception in Our Desires
  • Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they provoked Him to jealousy more than all that their fathers had done, with the sins which they committed. ²³ For they also built for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherim on every high hill and beneath every luxuriant tree. ²⁴ There were also male cult prostitutes in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord dispossessed before the sons of Israel, (14:22-24).

How do we respond to Him Who Detects Our Deception?

While we may sit back in judgment on this poor woman, so desperate for a good word about her son, and her great lengths to disguise her identity, don’t we often do the same thing? I am sad and ashamed to confess; I know I do.

But when we are honest before Him, He is faithful to work in our lives so as to Detect Our Deception, that we might be made pure and free from our pretense and attempts to cover up our inadequacies and needs.

Lord Jesus, please Detect Our Deception of Disguise before You, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Oh Lord may we cast off all our Disguises as we confess the darkness of our hidden sins, that we may walk in the light with You each and every day.

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; ⁷ but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, (1 John 1:6-9).

Lord Jesus, please Detect Our Deception in our Devotion to You. You have told us our Devotion will be expressed in our love, for You first, and then for others. Lord, please conform us to Your image to honestly love You with all our heart, soul and mind, that we would display the love we have received from You to others.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’³⁸ This is the great and foremost commandment. ³⁹ The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets,” (Matthew 22:36-40).

Lord Jesus, please Detect Our Deception in our Desire for You, that we would stop pursuing the competing enticements the world so readily offers. May we cultivate faithfulness exactly where You have placed us, learning to find all our delight in You, trusting You to plant Your Desires You have for us within our hearts.

Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
⁴ Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
⁵ Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it, (Psalm 37:3-5).

Let’s Grow Together!