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April 8, 2023

Narrative: The Disobedient Prophet

1Kings 13

There is a very interesting narrative in 1 Kings chapter 13. It’s a story about an old prophet who lived in Bethel. What is really curious to me is that the Bible specifically identifies him as an “old prophet”. There was no indication that this old prophet was a pretender or a false prophet. He is simply identified as old. As the story goes the old prophet had sons who had been in Bethel and observed an exciting exchange between a “man of God from Judah” and the King of Israel.

The sons of the old prophet related to him the exchange between the man of God and the King. The man of God exclaimed to the King and the altar that the King was about to sacrifice on, “O altar, altar, thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’” I could imagine the excitement of these sons of the old prophet as they continued their narration. And he gave a sign, saying, “This is the sign that the LORD has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’” It would have been a great time to be able to listen in on their explanations to their father. No doubt they were really warming up to their narrative as they got to the response of the King. King Jeroboam turned toward the man of God and pointed an angry finger toward him and commanded his officers to “Seize him.” Consider if you will the King of Israel a man of great power and authority being reprimanded in such a public setting.

Jeroboam had been made King over the 10 tribes of Israel when the people had been bitterly disappointed with Rehoboam the son of Solomon who began to reign over Judah and Israel after the death of Solomon. I imagine, while standing beside the altar in Bethel that he had built, Jeroboam felt a since of pride in all that had transpired and his rise to such a great height. I cannot help but wonder if Jeroboam thought upon the words of the prophet Ahijah who had told him that God had chosen him to be King over 10 tribes. I wonder if the words of the prophet Ahijah came back to his remembrance. Ahijah had met Jeroboam on the road leaving Jerusalem, and he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and will give you ten tribes. “ Ahijah had even explained to Jeroboam why God was taking the tribes of Israel from the hands of Rehoboam. God had declared  it was “because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and they have not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my rules, as David his father did.”

By now no doubt the old prophet was already putting the rest of the story together in his own mind as his sons continued their narrative. As King Jeroboam stood there pointing his finger at the man of God,  “his hand, which he stretched out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself.” I have no idea how excitable the old prophets sons were but how would you have told the story after hearing that exchange between a stranger and the King then saw the King’s hand wither right before your eyes. There must have been gasps rolling throughout the mass of people who had gathered for the sacrifice and subsequent feasting. How many in the crowd began to be a bit worried that maybe this man of God was indeed sent by God and ought to be listened to.

The withered hand got Jeroboam’s attention. And what was more telling to King Jeroboam, “The altar also was split apart and the ashes were poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.”

I can imagine the old prophet by now was nodding in solemn awareness that this was God’s hand at work. God had sent this man of God from Judah. As the sons continued their narration to its end, they told how King Jeroboam had pleaded with the man of God to restore his withered hand. Jeroboam began to try and convince the man of God to come back home with him so that they could have a meal, after his hand was restored. He changed his tune. He now wanted to ingratiate himself in the sight of the man of God. The sons then recounted to the old prophet the closing words of the man of God from Judah: the man of God said to the king, “If you give me half your house, I will not go in with you. And I will not eat bread or drink water in this place, for so was it commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came.’” So he went another way and did not return by the way that he came to Bethel.

For me this is the most compelling part of the story. The old prophet, probably with unaccustomed excitement told his sons to saddle a donkey for him. And he left to catch up to the man of God from Judah. He was able to catch up to him and he convinced the man of God that an Angel of God had sent him to bring him back to his home and there to feed him. The old prophet had lied to the man of God.

Why do you suppose he wanted the man of God to return with him home, especially once the man of God had repeated that God had told him to not eat or drink while in Bethel?

Why did the old prophet deceive the man of God?

Deception is as old as the Garden of Eden. Deception is a destroyer. It destroys reputations. It destroys relationships. It destroys integrity and trust. It destroys life itself.

My initial response to this story years ago was, that does not seem fair. The second prophet had lied to the first prophet. It was not the first prophet’s fault. But Paul, in the book of Galatians 1:8, made me aware that we are called to obey the Word of God not the word of any man not even of any angel.

To finish the story, the old prophet brought the man of God back to his home and while they were eating, the old prophet received a true message from God himself. He probably had a very astonished look on is face as he proclaimed the Word of God to the man of God from Judah. He cried to the man of God who came from Judah, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the LORD and have not kept the command that the LORD your God commanded you, but have come back and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’”

And of course, because these were the true Words of God they happened as God had said. The man of God from Judah left the home of the old prophet. Not too far on the road, just outside the city a lion killed the man of God. What was of great interest to me was the reaction of both the lion and the donkey. The donkey did not run away in fright. Nor did the lion eat his prey. They both stood guard over the body of the man of God.

When some men from the city passed by and saw the sight, they told it in the city where the old prophet lived. I can still remember my initial anger over the words of the old prophet; when he realized that it was the man of God from Judah; he did not cry out it is the man of God that I deceived; he cried out, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the word of the LORD; therefore the LORD has given him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word that the LORD spoke to him.

The old prophet did regain something in my estimation when he brought the body of the disobedient man of God to his home and dug a grave for him and mourned over him. He told his sons, “When I die, bury me in the grave in which the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones. 

Like all of scripture this story is important for us to take heed to. We or at least I was ready to back the disobedient man of God and condemn the old prophet. But with greater wisdom and understanding as well as Galatians 1:8, I realize that we are held accountable for what we do with the Word of God that is entrusted to us.

When Moses led the people out of Egypt and God was ready to take them into the land he had promised them, the people did not put their whole trust in the Word of the Lord, even though he had proved himself to be a faithful God and a keeper of his promises.

When the people of Israel asked for a King to rule over them, God gave them Saul. Saul was everything that the people wanted but did not adhere to the Word of God as Samuel explained to him. God sent Saul to go and destroy the Amalekites. 1 Samuel Chapter 15 tells the story of Saul’s disobedience of the Word of God. Samuel told Saul to go and destroy the Amalekites, “Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" But Saul and the people saved the best of the livestock and King Agag, alive and returned to Israel. Hear the sobering words of Samuel to Saul. And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22) and verse 23 is even more pointed, “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. (KJV)

When Solomon became King, he acknowledged his need of God’s guidance and wisdom to be a good King. But when he was old, he departed from the commandments of God. Were it not for David’s faithfulness before God the Kingdom would have been snatched from Solomon immediately. But God is faithful to his own Word even though we are not. He did not remove David’s line of rulers. He did divide the Kingdom into two parts: Israel the Northern Kingdom and Judah the Southern Kingdom.

Most of the Old Testament is God sending his prophets to warn his people of calamity if they do not turn from their wicked ways and obey his Word. The Apostle Paul likens the Old Testament to a school master who teaches us the way of the Lord. As our congregation has been studying the Minor Prophets, we have been made even more aware of the need to be obedient to what we know to be the will of God. Rebellion against the Word of God and stubbornness before the Lord were principal reasons for the calamities that came upon both Israel and Judah.

Most of the New Testament is God demonstrating grace beyond any that the prophets of old had ever experienced. God sent his only begotten son to live before us, to show us the kind of relationship that he wants to have with every one of us. Jesus said, “he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” (John 8:29) Jesus then is the standard that we are to strive for. We are to commit ourselves to trust and obey the Word of God in all things; even when the dearest in our lives, or an Angel tells us differently.

There is an excellent example of what I am talking about. In the Book of Matthew chapter 16 Jesus and his disciples are entering the region of Philippi. While walking Jesus asks them “Who do men say that I am” “They replied, “some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. ‘But what about you?’ he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Because Peter’s response was both perceptive and correct. Jesus commended him. “Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.” This commendation from Jesus must have caused Peter to be emboldened enough to try to advise Jesus on the best course of action going forward. Because as they are walking along the way Jesus begins to tell them that they are going to go into Jerusalem and there the people will crucify him. Peter did not consider this a wise course of action, especially given the miracles, the healings, the great crowds of people who were listening to his teachings. There was so much more that Jesus and his disciples still could accomplish. When Jesus said, “that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life”, Peter became greatly alarmed at the prospect of Jesus allowing himself to be killed. So he pulls Jesus aside, possibly out the range of the other disciples, “and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

It is understandable that he did not want his friend and the one who was to be the Messiah, the deliverer of Israel to be killed. He might not have even stopped to consider what Jesus meant by being raised from the dead on the third day. What he heard was a premature death of someone he loved.

Here is where Jesus’ convictions were again being put to the test. Will he agree with Peter? Will he rethink the plan that was set in motion from before the foundations of the earth were laid? Jesus had to forcefully reject this other way, this deviation from the plan that he had come into the world to accomplish. His response though spoken to Peter was directed to the true deceiver, Satan. Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Jesus then addressed his remarks to the whole group saying, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

In other words, if you want to be my disciple, my follower, you must do as I do. You must choose to obey the Word and will of God and not your own will or the will of others.

God is faithful to his Word. He calls us to the same relationship. He wants us to be faithful to his Word. If we esteem the Word of God as more important than our daily bread, we cannot be deceived.

Our beliefs about God, our beliefs in God become convictions that cannot be shaken through adversities and challenges to our beliefs. 

So that when we are tried we are able to persevere and overcome. God himself delights in our triumphs. James 1:12 says, Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Father, I thank you for the timelessness of your Word and your Promises. I pray you will use these words to encourage your children as they grow in their relationship with you. I pray that you will work in the heart of every person who does not know you as Lord to bring them to yourself, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are called to a walk of obedience that sets us apart from non-believers Read chapter 15 of the Gospel of John. Be sure to take in verses 9 through 14. In these verses Jesus frankly tells his disciples that he loves them even as his father loves him. Then he tells them to remain (abide) in his love. How will we know that we are in his love? We know that we are abiding in his love if we are imitating the life he lived in service to others.

If you are able to stop here and open your bible to John 15:9-14 - think deeply about what it means to you to remain or continue in Jesus’ love. For me I know that I am continuing in Jesus’ love when I am obedient to do the things that I know that Jesus would have me do. It is not in speaking but in doing that our love is observed. Our love is not only observed by God, but it is also observed by those around us.

It is not in saying I have faith, or I believe but it is in demonstrating that faith by doing the works of faith that our witness has its greatest effect. James tells us faith without works is dead. (James 2:14-20) Instead of saying be warm and filled and walking away we are called to make that warmth possible if it is in our means; make that filling possible if it is within your means. As Jesus was obedient to the Father and demonstrated the Love the Father had for his creation, you and I are called to the same work of ministry. The only thing that may be different about our calling to ministry will be found in how that call is manifested. This is where the Ephesian Model comes in: The Apostle Paul tells us that God has given to each of us a certain amount of grace that accompanies individual gifting(s). The grace is so that you will be able to use that gift for the benefit of others. Were it not for that measure of grace we would consume the gift for our own needs and gratifications. But along with the gifting, God has included a portion of his grace. We are able to act selflessly because of the grace of God at work in our lives. We are able to excel in meeting the needs of others because of the grace of God that has accompanied his gifting.

Regardless of what the gifting from God is in your life it has an outward not an inward purpose. We can derive the greatest joy, the greatest blessing, the greatest pleasure when we have focused our gift toward those in need. The grace and gifts from God have a three-fold purpose according to Paul: 1. The perfecting of the saints-that is the maturing of the saints of God into the servant-heirs of his kingdom 2. The work of the ministry - the obligation, responsibility, duty of all God’s children is to continue the work that Jesus began. Teaching men to know the good news of the Father’s love and sacrifice and coming judgement is an ongoing work until Jesus returns. 3. The edifying of the body of Christ- Instead of finding and exposing one another’s faults we need to be supporting one another’s growth in the Lord. If we find a brother or sister overcome by a fault, failure, or sin we are to help them to restoration. (Gal. 6:1) When we fulfill the scriptures that admonishes us to bear one another’s burdens, we make it possible for the true work of Christ to be done. Men will know that we are his disciples by our love one for another. (Jo 13:35) What will you do to promote the Ephesians Model in your own life and church? selah

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