DISOBEDIENT BELIEVERS

1 Kings 13:1-31 TLB

As Jeroboam approached the altar to burn incense to the golden calf idol, a prophet of the Lord from Judah walked up to him. [2] Then, at the Lord's command, the prophet shouted, "O altar, the Lord says that a child named Josiah shall be born into the family line of David, and he shall sacrifice upon you the priests from the shrines on the hills who come here to burn incense; and men's bones shall be burned upon you." [3] Then he gave this proof that his message was from the Lord: "This altar will split apart, and the ashes on it will spill to the ground." [4] The king was very angry with the prophet for saying this. He shouted to his guards, "Arrest that man!" and shook his fist at him. Instantly the king's arm became paralyzed in that position; he couldn't pull it back again! [5] At the same moment a wide crack appeared in the altar and the ashes poured out, just as the prophet had said would happen. For this was the prophet's proof that God had been speaking through him. [6] "Oh, please, please," the king cried out to the prophet, "beg the Lord your God to restore my arm again." So he prayed to the Lord, and the king's arm became normal again. [7] Then the king said to the prophet, "Come to the palace with me and rest awhile and have some food; and I'll give you a reward because you healed my arm." [8] But the prophet said to the king, "Even if you gave me half your palace, I wouldn't go into it; nor would I eat or drink even water in this place! [9] For the Lord has given me strict orders not to eat anything or drink any water while I'm here, and not to return to Judah by the road I came on." [10] So he went back another way. [11] As it happened, there was an old prophet living in Bethel, and his sons went home and told him what the prophet from Judah had done and what he had said to the king. [12] "Which way did he go?" the old prophet asked. So they told him. [13] "Quick, saddle the donkey," the old man said. And when they had saddled the donkey for him, [14] he rode after the prophet and found him sitting under an oak tree. "Are you the prophet who came from Judah?" he asked him. "Yes," he replied, "I am." [15] Then the old man said to the prophet, "Come home with me and eat." [16-17] "No," he replied, "I can't; for I am not allowed to eat anything or to drink any water at Bethel. The Lord strictly warned me against it; and he also told me not to return home by the same road I came on." [18] But the old man said, "I am a prophet too, just as you are; and an angel gave me a message from the Lord. I am to take you home with me and give you food and water." But the old man was lying to him. [19] So they went back together, and the prophet ate some food and drank some water at the old man's home. [20] Then, suddenly, while they were sitting at the table, a message from the Lord came to the old man, [21-22] and he shouted at the prophet from Judah, "The Lord says that because you have been disobedient to his clear command and have come here, and have eaten and drunk water in the place he told you not to, therefore your body shall not be buried in the grave of your fathers." [23] After finishing the meal, the old man saddled the prophet's donkey, [24-25] and the prophet started off again. But as he was traveling along, a lion came out and killed him. His body lay there on the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. Those who came by and saw the body lying in the road and the lion standing quietly beside it, reported it in Bethel where the old prophet lived. [26] When he heard what had happened he exclaimed, "It is the prophet who disobeyed the Lord's command; the Lord fulfilled his warning by causing the lion to kill him." [27] Then he said to his sons, "Saddle my donkey!" And they did. [28] He found the prophet's body lying in the road; and the donkey and lion were still standing there beside it, for the lion had not eaten the body nor attacked the donkey. [29] So the prophet laid the body upon the donkey and took it back to the city to mourn over it and bury it. [30] He laid the body in his own grave, exclaiming, "Alas, my brother!" [31] Afterwards he said to his sons, "When I die, bury me in the grave where the prophet is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones.

 

There are many believers today who, like the man of God in 1 Kings 13, fall into disobedience because what they hear, see, feel, or are told by others seems more reasonable or appealing than what the Lord has said. The walk of faith is one of obedience, not simply works or sacrifices. God gives each believer specific instructions about their calling, ministry, and life, but some of us ignore these and seek validation from people, thereby disobeying the Lord’s voice.

Too often, we look for direction and approval from others whom we consider more spiritually mature or higher in position, instead of relying on and obeying what God has told us. Disobedience brings consequences. God’s response to disobedience is clear in Genesis 3:1-24, particularly verse 17: “Because you listened to your wife and ate the fruit, I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.”

In 1 Kings 13:8-10, God’s instruction to the prophet was clear: he was not to eat, drink, or accept hospitality in that land. Yet, in verses 11-19, an old prophet from Bethel intercepted him and, claiming an angelic message, convinced him to do the opposite. The old prophet’s actions showed he was not a faithful servant of God. Still, the man of God listened to him, choosing the words of a man over the direct command of the Lord.

This story warns us about seeking validation and direction from people rather than God. Proverbs 23:12 reminds us that true instruction requires discipline and attention. How often do we take man’s word over God’s in our daily lives? Why do we seek validation from people, even at the cost of disobedience?

There are dangers in following even true prophets, and greater dangers in following false ones. The Lord alone is to be followed—never the arm of flesh says Jeremiah 17:5. Sometimes, God allows us to be tested in this way, to see whether we will follow Him or be swayed by others.

Those who follow prophets may not understand those who follow the Lord directly. They may mock or scorn those who choose to obey God above all, thinking themselves superior for following a prophet. But the man of God failed his test by following a prophet instead of the Lord. We must learn to follow Jesus Christ, not men.

A good servant does not argue, speaks little, and faithfully follows his work. Every Christian is a minister, working out their salvation and that of others, speaking more to God than to people. As John 10:5 teaches, no matter who is speaking, if the Lord has spoken, we must obey His voice.

There are consequences to every action, good or bad, and God’s word is final—there is no room for compromise according to Revelation 3:16. We must follow the Lord’s instructions completely, no matter how difficult they seem.

God defines disobedience as sin. Adam and Eve learned by painful experience that because God is holy and hates sin, he must punish sinners. The rest of the book of Genesis recounts painful stories of lives ruined because of the Fall. Disobedience is sin, and it breaks our fellowship with God. But fortunately, when we disobey, God is willing to forgive us and to restore our relationship with him. In Numbers 20:1-13, we see disobedience cuts Moses of the inheritance.

God does not give two conflicting directives for the same assignment. When He sends you, let Him guide you. Don’t seek approval from those who cannot understand the weight of your assignment. Don’t be a disobedient believer.

PRAYER: Lord of hosts, help me to be completely obedient to You. Teach me to follow only Your instructions, directions, and voice without seeking justification from others. Give me the courage to trust and obey You fully, in Jesus’s name. Amen.

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