"Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu, the son of Hanani, against Baasha, saying, “In as much as I lifted you out of the dust and made you ruler over My people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam, and have made My people Israel to sin, to provoke Me to anger by their sins.” 1 Kings 16:1, 2a NKJV

It is so easy to forget our humble beginning as dust and begin thinking of ourselves more highly than is warranted. That was true of Baasha, the third king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. From a humble birth, he aggressively sought power and rose to be captain over King Nadab's army. At the opportune time he assassinated Nadab and pronounced himself king. He, as did his predecessor kings, caused the people to sin by worshipping a calf. After a wicked reign of 23 years poetic justice would have it that he too would be assassinated by his own son. Be warned; causing others to sin provokes the anger of God.