Jeroboam soon realized that if his followers kept looking to Jerusalem as their center of religious life, it would be too easy for them to be persuaded to follow Jerusalem's king instead of him. In a speech that sounded right, he told the people that they did not have to travel all the way to Jerusalem to worship God. That was too hard to do; they could worship at the towns of Bethel or Dan.
Jeroboam started new festivals, similar to the ones that God's people were expected to attend three times each year in Jerusalem. He even set up some gold calves to help the people worship. But Jeroboam's actions were wrong. They were the first of many steps that would lead the people of Isreal to destruction.
Because something sounds right, looks right and is even said to be right by someone in authority, that still does not make it right. If something goes against God's Word, it is wrong.
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