We see in both the previous and present verse what we might be tempted to think of as a kind of change of heart on the part of Jeroboam. From one who is giving orders to the harm of the man of God, he approaches the same prophet to ask God to reverse the bodily judgment that he experienced.
Yet such a view is not necessarily correct. There is nothing in the text that definitively shows a humbling of the king. Jeroboam speaks to the prophet in the imperative, the mood of command. In his point of view, it is the man of God who is to entreat the Lord, but he believes that he has the right to command that this should be done. Furthermore, the manner in which he speaks of God suggests that there is no real change of heart. Even though Yahweh is the God over Israel, the nation over which Jeroboam reigns as king, the king speaks of the Lord as your God,
not as our God.
He was speaking in such a way that would illustrate a chasm separating him from the God who placed him over the ten northern tribes.
Why did this prophet agree to Jeroboam’s wish? We use this term to leave the question open whether it was a demand or a request on the king’s part. The text does not tell us, but a suggestion might be offered. By demonstrating that the judgment could be reversed by an appeal to the Lord, there would be the clear demonstration that it had come upon Jeroboam by the same hand. The Bible shows evidence that unbelievers are adept at attempting to explain God’s mighty deeds as the result of natural
coincidence. One example of this is the manner in which the Philistines returned the ark of the covenant to Israel (see 1 Samuel 6:7–9).
Also, the mercy of God demonstrated to one who had grievously rebelled against the God who had put him in his place as king over the northern kingdom, intensified the guilt he bore by his idolatrous actions because it did not lead to repentance. Mercy that is received in unbelief and brings no repentance increases the guilt of the recipient of that mercy. Paul asks, Do you not know that the kindness of God is meant to lead you to repentance?
(Romans 2:4).
In any event, the prophet acceded to the wish of the king. Jeroboam’s hand was, therefore, restored. The following verses will demonstrate to us whether or not the above questions are answered with any greater clarity.
6 And the king said to the man of God, “Entreat now the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” And the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him and became as it was before.