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A very strange chapter
that seems to drive home what my evangelist friend Ronnie Hill says: “95%
obedience equals 100% disobedience.”
Jeroboam, the new king
of the just-formed northern 10 tribes, felt that he had to break all religious ties with Jerusalem and set up a
substitute religion if he was going to be able to retain control. Breaking every command of the Mosaic law, he
set about to do just that, including making himself a priest.
So God sent a faithful “man
of God” from Judah to deliver a message.
God’s message wasn’t specifically for
the king, but for the altar where he was presenting
sacrifices. “This altar will break
apart, and the ashes on it will fall to the ground.” Jeroboam pointed at the prophet and ordered
him seized, but instantly his arm became paralyzed. Then
the altar did what God had said would happen. Concerned more for his arm than for his spiritual condition, Jeroboam asked the man to
pray to God for ehaling, and God graciously granted it.
Jeroboam offered him a
meal and a gift, but the prophet refused, because God had warned him not to eat or drink anything, and to return
home by a different route. (In
Middle Eastern custom, sharing a meal indicated acceptance of the host’s actions and beliefs.)
Here comes the strange
part – An old prophet was for some reason still
living in Bethel when all the other priests and Levites had left for
Judah. He went after the young prophet,
who had stopped under an oak tree (remember this). The old prophet asked him to come share a
meal, but the young prophet refused, stating his instructions from God. Telling
a lie, the old prophet claimed an angel from the Lord had sent him to bring
the man to his home to eat. Apparently
bowing to perceived seniority, the young prophet agreed. God then stepped in and used the old lying
prophet to tell the young prophet he’d
disobeyed, even though he’d been deceived. On his way home, he was killed by a lion!
The whole scene could
upset our sensibilities, but my commentary said, “The young prophet’s ministry
is very important in this account, for all that he said and experienced, including his death, were a part of God’s warning to King Jeroboam … We
must not forget the main message: if the
Lord punished a deceived prophet for his
disobedience, how much more would He punish a wicked king who was sinning with his eyes wide open? … The young prophet did his work well and got
out of town. Had he kept
going and not lingered under the tree he would have escaped the tempting offer of
the old prophet. God’s servants often
face great temptation after times of great success and excitement … The younger
man shouldn’t have hastened to accept the older man’s words. If God gave the man from Judah the message and the instructions for delivering it, then God could also give him the changes
in the plan … Beware of letting
other believers tell you God’s will
for your life.”
Despite all this, which God was using to speak to Jeroboam
about his sin, Jeroboam refused to
change, and God’s next warning to
him will hit close to home.
Father, thanks for reminding me that until I hear differently from You, I must keep doing the last thing You’ve directed me to do,
and that I can’t let others open my mail from You and read it to me. Again You’ve emphasized the importance of
100% obedience. Thank You for the
reminder!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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