What Did You Say?
Scripture: 1 Kings 13:16-19, 23-24
“No, I cannot,” he replied. “I am not allowed to eat or drink anything here in this place. 17 For the LORD gave me this command: ‘You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, and do not return to Judah by the same way you came.’” 18 But the old prophet answered, “I am a prophet, too, just as you are. And an angel gave me this command from the LORD: ‘Bring him home with you so he can have something to eat and drink.’” But the old man was lying to him. 19 So they went back together, and the man of God ate and drank at the prophet’s home....When the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the prophet who had brought him back saddled his donkey for him. 24 As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him..."
Observations:
This is seriously one of the craziest and confusing stories in the Bible. In short God sends a prophet to prophesy against the evil practices of King Jeroboam and confirms his words with cool signs and wonders. Obviously, this prophet had heard from God. Then he leaves after refusing to eat with the king because God had instructed him to fast. However on his way home something bizarre happens. He is met by another prophet who invites him home for dinner but lies and said that an angel told him it was now ok for him to eat. The first prophet then agrees and they go to his house to eat. Then after dinner, prophet number two stands up and basically says, "Aha, I fooled you! Now because you disobeyed what God told you, you will die!". So prophet number one is like "uh, ok", leaves, and on his way home is attacked by a lion and killed. Awesome.
So what's this craziness all about? So what is it ok to lie as long as its in the name of God? Does God love practical jokes? Did God put this guy up to this twisted plan to deceive one of his own spokesman? Beyond just the confusing details in thus story, why is it even in the Bible? All very good questions without clear answers.
Application:
But one thing here is clear: there is no substitute for obedience. If we take this story at face value and look beyond the ethical dilemas it creates, we find that God means what He says and says what He means. When God speaks He will always test our obedience. Often times He will allow circumstances that will challenge our obedience. Just like in the Garden of Eden, we are bombarded with voices that prompt us to ask the question, "did God really say...". The danger many times is that we tend to hear only what we want to hear when it's most convenient. But the moment things get tough is when we need more than ever to cling to God's Word and remind ourselves of what He has already spoken. God's not a contradiction and He wants us to hear, understand, and obey His voice even more than we do. When all else fails, stick with what you know. If you're having trouble decyphering God's voice and His will, the key question to ask is always, "what has God already said?"
Prayer:
Father, give us the courage today to remember Your Word even when the circumstances of life seek to steer us off course and compromise our obedience. Help us when times get tough to cling to that which You have already spoken! Amen.
Daily Bible Reading Plan
“No, I cannot,” he replied. “I am not allowed to eat or drink anything here in this place. 17 For the LORD gave me this command: ‘You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, and do not return to Judah by the same way you came.’” 18 But the old prophet answered, “I am a prophet, too, just as you are. And an angel gave me this command from the LORD: ‘Bring him home with you so he can have something to eat and drink.’” But the old man was lying to him. 19 So they went back together, and the man of God ate and drank at the prophet’s home....When the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the prophet who had brought him back saddled his donkey for him. 24 As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him..."
Observations:
This is seriously one of the craziest and confusing stories in the Bible. In short God sends a prophet to prophesy against the evil practices of King Jeroboam and confirms his words with cool signs and wonders. Obviously, this prophet had heard from God. Then he leaves after refusing to eat with the king because God had instructed him to fast. However on his way home something bizarre happens. He is met by another prophet who invites him home for dinner but lies and said that an angel told him it was now ok for him to eat. The first prophet then agrees and they go to his house to eat. Then after dinner, prophet number two stands up and basically says, "Aha, I fooled you! Now because you disobeyed what God told you, you will die!". So prophet number one is like "uh, ok", leaves, and on his way home is attacked by a lion and killed. Awesome.
So what's this craziness all about? So what is it ok to lie as long as its in the name of God? Does God love practical jokes? Did God put this guy up to this twisted plan to deceive one of his own spokesman? Beyond just the confusing details in thus story, why is it even in the Bible? All very good questions without clear answers.
Application:
But one thing here is clear: there is no substitute for obedience. If we take this story at face value and look beyond the ethical dilemas it creates, we find that God means what He says and says what He means. When God speaks He will always test our obedience. Often times He will allow circumstances that will challenge our obedience. Just like in the Garden of Eden, we are bombarded with voices that prompt us to ask the question, "did God really say...". The danger many times is that we tend to hear only what we want to hear when it's most convenient. But the moment things get tough is when we need more than ever to cling to God's Word and remind ourselves of what He has already spoken. God's not a contradiction and He wants us to hear, understand, and obey His voice even more than we do. When all else fails, stick with what you know. If you're having trouble decyphering God's voice and His will, the key question to ask is always, "what has God already said?"
Prayer:
Father, give us the courage today to remember Your Word even when the circumstances of life seek to steer us off course and compromise our obedience. Help us when times get tough to cling to that which You have already spoken! Amen.
Daily Bible Reading Plan
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