Nadab - A Failed Son

Introduction

I began to name this the ‘Bible Person Study’, but chose to go with the ‘Bible Character Study’. I hesitated to name it that, as I don’t want to diminish the fact that these are real people we’ll be examining. But the reason that it’s named the Bible Character Study is because we’ll be focusing on the person’s character throughout. But don’t forget that these were real people, with real lives that made real choices that had real consequences.

I. Nadab’s Nature

((What is their History / Background?)

The 2nd King of Israel Divided

Reigned for 2 years (1Ki. 15:25)

During the Time of Asa King of Judah (1Ki. 15:25)

The Son of Jeroboam (1Ki. 14:20)

II. Nadab’s Notoriety

(What they are known for?)

The entirety of Nadab’s story is found in

Walked in the Way of his Father (1Ki. 15:26)

Very little is said about Nadab, but one thing that the Bible is clear on is that he ‘walked in the way of his father’.

This apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

Notice the distinction though - 1 Kings 15:26 “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.”

It wasn’t that he just had the mannerisms or ways of his dad, but he had the same type of influence as well.

He Walked in the Way of his Father

Warred against the Philistines (1Ki. 15:27b)

The Philistines were perhaps known to be the mortal enemies of the COI. We’re not told why he went warring after them, but he took the initiative, and went to Gibbethon to fight against the Philistines.

It could have been a righteous cause or one just to prove he was tough - but whatever it was, we see that he warred against the Philistines.

Was Killed by Conspiracy (1Ki. 15:27a)

It would be interesting to see how this played out - but we’re not given any details, other than Baasha conspired against him and smote him at Gibbethon.

He could have got him in a triangulation crossfire as his motorcade passed through with a magic bullet… but one way or another, as Nadab was going about to fight the Philistines, Baasha was going about to kill Nadab.

Was Killed by Conspiracy

Was the Last of Jeroboam’s Line to Reign (1Ki. 15:29)

As mentioned - unlike the Kingdom of Judah, the Kingdom of Israel would have a variety of different lineages to ascend to the throne, only to have another come and take it away.

Nadab was the last of Jeroboam’s line to Reign, but also among the last to live

And Among the Last to Live

In other to not have Jeroboam’s family seek to seize back control of the monarchy, Baasha would not only kill Nadab, but all of his kinfolk as well.

Among the Last to Live

III. What Makes him Noteworthy

(What Lessons we can Learn from them?)

The Enemy can be Anywhere (1Ki. 15:27)

As Nadab laid seige to Gibbethon, and was focused on what is historically a mortal enemy of the Jewish people - someone of his own kin slew him.

(Ill.) I can only imagine having my focus on trying to win this battle against this known enemy, only to while my focus is shifted - have a knife plunged into my back. What a horrible shock that would be - to be on the attack and all of a sudden feel the pain and horror of realizing unexpectedly your life is over.

And it wasn’t by a Philistines ‘drew a bow at a venture’ - but by a friend. A trusted advisor.

I wonder if what David wrote came to mind in that moment: Psalm 41:9 “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Which did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me.”

So what does this teach us? It teaches us that enemies can be anywhere - and especially in places where you’d least expect them.

Many Christians expect an enemy in Satan - but many don’t consider that within the church, there are enemies of Christ and that work the works which are anti-christ.

Let me show you some examples…

We’ve been examining the book of Galatians - (Read Gal. 1:6-9) Let me ask you this: Were those perverting the Gospel friends or enemies of the Cross of Christ?

We often think that false preachers / teachers are easy to spot - and for us here the examples that I’ve shown are easy enough for us to spot - but not for others! To others they are in the same camp as us! They look at them as ‘Christians’ just like they would look at us!

And they will continue that, unless we differentiate ourselves from them!

But know this: False teaches under satanic influence are subtil: (Read 2Cor. 11:1-4; 12-15)

Know that the enemy can be anywhere - this is why we must always be on guard: 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

The Enemy can be Anywhere

Sins of Omission are Sins Nonetheless (1Ki. 15:26)

‘In the way of his father, and in his sin’

I believe the greatest sin that Jeroboam committed is not simply that he worshipped false gods, but that he did so knowing the truth. He knew the truth, yet didn’t obey the truth.

Quite possible (by the language) that Nadab knew the truth, but simply didn’t follow truth. This would be more sin by omission - but church, it’s still sin.

James 4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

We must - at some point - understand that sin is not narrowed to only those things in which we do, but equally important are things we know we should do, but fail to.

Sins of Omission are Sins Nonetheless

To Whom Much is Given, Much is Required

Nadab was given a platform - God created him as the seed of Jeroboam - and by his sin, he caused Israel to sin.

Luke 12:47–48 “And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

If God has given you a place and a platform to make a difference, you’d better do it! You have the ability to lead people to Christ or away from Him.

God’s Word is Sure (1Ki. 15:30)

Nadab’s fate wasn’t a surprise to God, in fact - God had set things in motion to result in the overthrowing of Jeroboam’s house. God declared that it would be so, and it was!

Going back:

God’s Promise: (1Ki. 11:37-38)

God’s Warning: (1Ki. 13:1-6)

Jeroboam’s response: (1Ki. 13:33-34)

God’s Declaration of Judgment (1Ki. 14:7-10)

We see this play out in the short reign of his son Nadab

Church, the Word of God is Sure:

It’s sure in His Promises

It’s sure in His Judgments

It’s sure in His Commands

God says what He means & means what He says.

This is why the Word of God is so important!

God’s Word is Sure

We must be Careful What we Leave Behind

I subtitled this message ‘A Failed Son’. Notice, I didn’t say ‘A Son that Failed’, but a Failed Son.

The reason is quite clear. Nadab didn’t fail as much as Nadab was failed by his father.

One of the highest compliments I receive is when someone says they see my children in me.

(Ill.) Scottie told me one day a little while back of when I’d met a couple of his friends from college. They told him after meeting me that it was like meeting an older version of him.

One of the scariest things that I think of sometimes is ‘what if my kids are like me’.

I would love for my children to have good traits from me. But I fear that my fleshly traits rise up within them as well.

I desire and do my best to live a life that if my children live that same life, it would make me proud. Because the truth is, we have great influence as parents - and we must be extremely careful as to which way that influence leads.

He was Left a Kingdom

Nadab was left a kingdom. He was left physically & monetarily with as much as one could have been left.

There’s many parents that their goal in life is to leave behind stuff.

Now there’s many things that could be said to that: Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes said much about it: Namely Ecclesiastes 2:16–19 “For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool. Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.”

Let me say: There’s nothing wrong with leaving an inheritance to your children. But that should be the least of your worries! Mark 8:36 “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

Nadab was left monetarily with all that he could have wanted - but it didn’t matter a bit in the long run to him.

He was Left a Kingdom

He was Led Astray

‘he walked int he ways of his father’

This is what I was talking about.

Jeroboam’s sin is well documented. And he may have left his son with a kingdom - but he led his son astray.

There’s many a drunkard today because that’s what daddy did

There’s many an atheist today because daddy had no need of religion

There’s many a apathetic Christian today because daddy was too busy with worldly things to care much about Godly things.

“Walk a little slower, Daddy,” Said a child so small. “I’m following in your footsteps and I don’t want to fall. Sometimes your steps are very fast, Sometimes they’re hard to see; So, walk a little slower, Daddy, For you are leading me. Someday when I’m all grown up, You’re what I want to be; Then I will have a little child Who’ll want to follow me. And I would want to lead just right, And know that I was true; So walk a little slower, Daddy, For I must follow you.”

Jeroboam failed Nadab because Jeroboam led Nadab in a way that would lead to his destruction.

He was Led Astray

He Suffered for his Father’s Sin

Not only was he led astray, but he suffered for his father’s sin

I gave a few examples, and I want to use them to show you the difference in this & that:

I said: ‘There’s many a drunkard today because that’s what daddy did’

There’s many kids that go hungry, because daddy spends his money on booze.

I said: ‘There’s many an atheist today because daddy had no need of religion’

There’s children who never hear about Jesus because daddy cares more about himself that his children.

It’s true that our children suffer by our choices. Nadab was failed by his father. I pray I don’t fail my children.

Conclusion