Today’s blog is based on 1 Kings 13. You can read the full chapter here, or from your Bible. I’d recommend reading before finishing the rest of the post!
I came across this story while reading the 40-Day Feast by Wendy Speake. 1 Kings has some stories that are extremely famous, like stories about Elijah’s life as a prophet–defeating Jezebel’s prophets by calling down fire from heaven is one that comes to mind. But this particular story happens before Elijah arrives on the scene.
Jeroboam is king of Israel at this time. After Solomon’s death and his son Rehoboam becomes king, ten of the twelve tribes rebel and crown Jeroboam their king. This created the divide between Judah (the tribes of Benjamin and Judah) who kept Rehoboam as king and Israel (the remaining ten tribes) who made Jeroboam their king. Jeroboam then establishes his own version of religion to try to keep the people from going to Jerusalem, capitol of Judah, to offer their sacrifices to God. This included creating his own line of priests–a direct violation of God’s Law and decree regarding the priesthood. The bad choices of both kings lead us to the mess we find as our story opens in 1 Kings 13 (read 1 Kings 11 and 12 for the backstory, which details Solomon’s falling away from God and leads to the choices of these two kings).
God sends a prophet from Judah to Israel to deliver a message and a warning (presumably no one in Israel was acting in accordance with God’s decrees, which would explain why God sent someone from outside Israel to speak truth). We are not told his name; he is only referred to as a “man of God from Judah” throughout the story. The short version is he delivered the warning to King Jeroboam, declined the king’s offer of food and gifts, and left Bethel to return to Judah by a different route. He then encountered an older prophet, who invited him to break bread with him, and chose to go with him–which violated God’s instructions (seriously, go back and read 1 Kings 13 if you skipped that part). Spoilers: this choice costs the man of God from Judah his life. The manner of his departure from the earth also served as a warning, but after all of that, King Jeroboam kept on disobeying God.
The ending of the story feels very depressing, but there are valuable lessons to be learned from this nameless man of God from Judah. Here are some of those lessons that have been stuck in my mind since I encountered this story:
- God gave clear instructions
The man of God from Judah repeated God’s instructions several times in this story: “You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came” (verses 9 and 17). He knew what his job was and he knew how to complete it. Most of us would love to have such clear directions when we are sent out for a task. This man had just that–and yet at the end, he turned away and left those instructions behind.
God does not change His mind. One of my life verses from Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” (NIV) God meant what He said to the man of God from Judah. Instead of seeking out clarification, he took the old prophet’s words at face value and it cost him his life (more on that in a minute).
The fact that God does not change His mind is something I write about often here on this blog, but it’s something I need to be reminded of frequently because it’s easy to forget. Our world changes so quickly. Think about how often updates are available for technology. Newer and better versions are always at our fingertips. But with those constant shifts, it doesn’t take much to lose sight of what is solid and reliable. The good news is that God is solid and reliable. He is a firm foundation and He doesn’t change. He does not lie, and once He puts something in motion, He doesn’t change His mind and retract it.
The lesson from this story is to keep your eye fixed on instructions you receive from the Lord and do not doubt Him!
- Older does not equal wiser
We are introduced to a “certain old prophet living in Bethel” in verse 11 of the story. This man would have been respected by the people and likely was used by God at some point in his life, as he carried the title of prophet. Yet he was still dwelling in Bethel and appeared to be unbothered by King Jeroboam’s blatant disregard for God’s Law. Clearly he had grown comfortable and complacent, especially since he had the confidence to lie to the man of God from Judah (verse 18).
Wisdom is traditionally attributed to those who are older, given they have lived longer and experienced more. However, James 1:5 doesn’t limit who can ask God for wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (NIV). It says “any of you,” which includes you and me, and every other person out there. In my 30s, I’ve definitely asked God for a lot of wisdom and He’s always answered me and provided for my needs in this area. While having elders in your life who are reputable and wise, God should be the ultimate source of wisdom in your life, the One you check in with to receive clarification when something seems off or doesn’t align with scripture.
The lesson from this story is to watch who you accept advice and instruction from–there may be deceit hidden beneath the surface.
- Always seek out God for yourself
The man of God from Judah did not seek clarification for himself when the old prophet lied to him; he took the prophet’s words at face value. He may have been tired or hungry, or maybe the old prophet’s reputation was known and he simply believed him. Unfortunately, he paid the price for not seeking out God for clarification over this supposed change of instruction.
1 John 4:1 says, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (NIV). We are invited to seek out God for confirmation when we are unsure of what we are hearing. The man of God from Judah should have sought verification from God, and because he didn’t, it cost him his life.
The lesson from this story is to seek out God if you have doubts or are told new information that is different from your original instructions.
- Keep your eyes on your task
When God sets a task in motion in your life, He will see it through to completion. He will not change His mind (Numbers 23:19). Philippians 1:6 reminds us that we can be “confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (NIV). The man of God from Judah wavered, trusting the wrong source without seeking out further guidance or confirmation. He took his eyes off God’s instructions and failed to complete his task.
Distractions abound more and more every day. It doesn’t take much for our eyes to wander. However, our focus is essential to seeing the Christian work through to completion. Watch out for those who seek to trip you up, and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, our example and our way (Hebrews 12:2; John 14:6).
The lesson from this story is to maintain your focus on the job at hand and complete it well.
In a world full of false teachings where the absolute truth is becoming harder and harder to see clearly, it is important to always seek out clarification and confirmation to avoid being led astray. Satan wants nothing more than for you and me to spin in self-doubt and stay stuck right where we are, to never move forward and make progress for the Kingdom.
Every day is another opportunity to follow through on the work God gives us. Keep your eyes focused on the finish line, friends. Don’t be afraid to double-check with God when you find yourself unsure about a potential change in His instructions; rather, checking in with God keeps us continually tethered to our Father, who loves it when His children come to Him. We can approach His throne with confidence for help, mercy, grace, and reassurance in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
His door is always open, and His ear is always tuned to our prayers (1 Peter 3:12). Seek Him first so you can follow through well.
Blessings,
~Lynne
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