So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” 1 Kings 12:28
I wrestled through college and, because I wasn’t very good, I lost a lot. Of all my losses though, one defeat stands out. It was a guy I’d seen wrestle several times previously, who was notable in that he had only one move. If he could get his opponent to lock up (a specific “hugging” position), he could throw that opponent to his back, pinning him. He wrestled for a team we met often, so I’d seen him wrestle 10 or 15 times in the previous two years. He wasn’t unbeatable though. In fact, he probably lost more than he won. Those who beat him all had one thing in common – they all avoided the locking position, so they never got thrown to their backs. Likewise, those who lost to him, all allowed him to lock up. Once that happened, it was over.
So, when it was my turn to wrestle him, I knew exactly what I had to do. Don’t lock up. It’s embarrassing to write now, but almost immediately, I locked up with him. I knew what was coming, but I honestly thought I could prevent it. I had to know. Can I stop him? I could not. I immediately got thrown to my back. As I walked off the mat, my teammates looked confused. Why would you do that? They knew exactly what was coming, but they were forced to watch helplessly, screaming for me to not lock up with him. But I did it anyway, and I got pinned.
In refusing to learn from the failures of those who’ve gone before us, we often repeat their mistakes. This is the lesson of today’s passage. In the story, most of Israel revolted against King Rehoboam, dividing the kingdom in two (Israel and Judah). Israel crowned Jeroboam, who immediately set up two golden calves for his people to worship. He knew the history of his people. He knew of God’s prohibition of idol worship, and he knew how much pain and suffering the Israelites had caused themselves in disobeying God. Yet he did it anyway. This is different. It wasn’t different though. Jeroboam repeated the same mistakes as those who’d gone before him and so, he paid the same price.
I often think, It’s different when it’s me. I’m not different though and I’m not special. If I repeat the mistakes of those who’ve gone before me, I’ll pay the same price. If I desire to avoid the painful consequences I’ve seen others endure, then I must humble myself enough to recognize my propensity for repeating their mistakes. If they did drugs and suffered, so will I. If they ate poorly and gained weight, I will too. If they got addicted to pornography and damaged their marriage, the same will happen to me. I’m not invincible. If I repeat the mistakes of those who’ve gone before me, I will suffer the same consequences.