Jeroboam's lack of trust

“After seeking advice, the king [Jeroboam] made two golden calves. He said to the people, ‘It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’” 1 Kings 12:28
Jeroboam had received a prophecy from Ahijah that God would divide the kingdom and give him control over ten tribes (1 Kin. 11:31-33). At that time, Jeroboam was one of Solomon’s officials. As we know, when Solomon’s son Rehoboam took the throne, he treated the people harshly and ten of the tribes rebelled.
God’s promise to Jeroboam was significant: “If you do whatever I command you and walk in My ways and do what is right in My eyes by keeping My statutes and commands, as David My servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Isarel to you” (1 Kin. 11:38).
However, Jeroboam did not have faith in this promise. Instead, he felt threatened, because the people were required to worship at the temple, which was in Jerusalem, the capital of the southern kingdom of Judah. He thought that if the people were constantly going down there, they would turn back and give their allegiance to Rehoboam again (1 Kin. 12:26-27). So Jeroboam set up the two golden calf idols, and in so doing, led the people astray.
God’s promise to Jeroboam was not fulfilled, because he failed to serve God. Indeed, the Northern Kingdom had seven dynasties, while Judah had one. One can only wonder how history might have been different if Jeroboam had trusted in God’s promise to him.