There is no better way to teach obedience without looking at the consequences of disobedience: an act that provokes God’s anger and evokes grave consequences.
There are instructions that come with almost everything we use. These instructions give us direction and keep us safe. There are also rules and laws that guide us at home, at school, at work, and in the society. Boundary lines exist, even in our relationships. Our compliance is rooted in obedience; a virtue that is beneficial for our entire lifetime.
The bible tells us the story of two prophets of God; one plagued by deception and the other, by disobedience.
In 1 Kings 12:26, the scripture tells us of all the abominable acts of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, a servant of king Solomon who later became a king over Israel. Scripture refers to him as the king who led Israel to sin. He made two golden calves and set them upon the altars in Bethel and Dan for the Israelites to worship, thereby proclaiming idolatry. He built shrines in high places, appointed priests outside of the Levites, and went up to the altar to make offerings despite not being a priest.
During his reign were two biblical prophets. The bible never told us their names but the scripture refers to one as the man of God from Judah (prophet from Judah), and the other, as the prophet in Bethel.
1 Kings 13:1-10 tells us about the man of God from Judah, a prophet whom God sent to prophecy against the idolatrous altar in Bethel. Jeroboam, the king over Israel stood before the altar to burn incense as the man of God from Judah prophesied against that altar. He spoke about the birth of Josiah, of the household of David who will kill and sacrifice all the priests of the high places that burn incense upon that altar, and defile it with the burning of human bones. He gave a sigh which happened in that moment according to the word of God. The king’s hand that was stretched against him also dried up. He interceded for the king and God heard and honoured his prayers.
This man of God from Judah was mindful to obey God’s instructions to the last letter. God had commanded him saying: “You must not eat bread, or drink water, or return by the way you came.” This command he had revealed to the king when he invited him over to his house for refreshment. He declined the king’s invitation and departed Bethel through another way. He obeyed God’s instructions fully until he met a lying prophet in Bethel.
Deception and Disobedience
The bible described the prophet in Bethel as an old man whose sons had told him about the man of God from Judah who visited Bethel on that day. They told him about all the signs he had performed, and what he had said to the king (1 Kings 13:11). This must have included God’s direct charge to him. Then, the old prophet went after him for one reason: to give him a contrary instruction, and make him disobey God. He chased after him and found him seated under an oak tree on his way back to Judah. In verse 15, the prophet in Bethel invited the prophet from Judah back to Bethel saying, “Come home with me and eat.”
The invitation was the exact opposite of God’s instruction to the man of God from Judah. This prophet didn’t forget God’s command. Just like he declined the king’s invitation, he also declined this. He repeated God’s instructions to the prophet in Bethel who then introduced himself as a prophet, but lied about an angel speaking to him by the word of God. The prophet in Bethel was on a mission to cause the prophet from Judah to sin against God by all means, including through deception.
Unfortunately, the man of God from Judah fell for the lies of the older prophet and went back to Bethel with him. He ate and drank at his table. He obeyed the prophet in Bethel and disobeyed the instructions of God. Read https://fullnineyards.com/gods-waiting-room-where-patience-meets-greatness/ on why we must trust and obey God fully.
“The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23
The man of God from Judah was a tool in God’s hand. God chose him and sent him on a mission which he fearlessly performed. He prophesied against the altar in Bethel and his prophecies came to pass in the reign of King Josiah, almost three hundred years later. He obeyed God’s instruction while at the altar but fell under the oak tree because he trusted the voice of a stranger over the words of God.
This prophet paid the ultimate price for his act of disobedience: death. He was killed by a lion on his way out of Bethel. The lion killed him, left his body lying on the road while the lion and his donkey stood by. The lion did not eat his carcase, neither did it touch the donkey. It was a mystery to all who passed by. The rest of this interesting story is in 1 Kings 13
As Christians, whose report do we believe? The word of God or the voice of man?
The moral of this story is that we must be fully obedient to God’s instructions. Partial obedience is an act of disobedience.
We must not overshare sensitive information. The man of God from Judah made a big error sharing the details of God’s specific instructions to him with the king and the prophet in Bethel.
We teach our children not to believe the words of a stranger, no matter how convincing they are. We should practise that spiritually. We should not obey a voice we do not know and trust.
There are consequences for disobedience, some grievous. The bible clearly tells us in Romans 6:23 that “The wages of sin is death.” This is demonstrated in the life of the man of God from Judah. It is a warning to us today about the consequences of disobedience.
Just like we reward our children for behaving well, God also rewards us for full obedience. The bible says:
- You will be loved by God (John 14:21)
- You will become a friend of God (James 2:23, John 15:14)
- God will bless and multiply you and your descendants, He will give you victory and make you a blessing (Genesis 22:17)
- You will be blessed abundantly (Deuteronomy 28:1-14)
- Obedience will lead you to righteousness (Romans 6:16)
- You will enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:21)
- You will eat the good things of the land (Isaiah 1:19)
- It may be well with you (Jeremiah 7:23)
- You may live long (Deuteronomy 5:33)
- You shall not be ashamed (Psalm 119:6)
- You shall be prosperous and have good success (Joshua 1:8, 1 Kings 2:3)
- YOU WILL BE GOD’S TREASURED POSSESSION (Exodus 19:5, NIV)
It’s a great thing to trust and obey God! As we journey through life, let’s always remember the story of the man of God from Judah who disobeyed God by listening to the voice of another man. We must not let anyone halt our mission with lies. This is a tale of two prophets. It could have been a tale of two sisters, two friends: where one leads the other to sin. Let’s be guided.