What can we learn from the man of God and the lying prophet?

Response

In 1 Kings 13, we learn about an individual referred to only as a “man of God” who was sent by the Lord from Judah to prophesy against King Jeroboam of Israel. He proclaimed, “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'” (verse 2). The prophet, whose name is not mentioned, also provided a sign: “Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out” (verse 3).

Jeroboam tried to seize the man, “but the hand he stretched out toward the man shriveled up, so that he could not pull it back” «And it came to pass, when King Jeroboam heard the words of the man of God, who had cried out against the altar in Bethel, that he reached out his hand from the altar, saying, Seize him. And his hand, which he stretched out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself. », (1 Kings 13:4). Simultaneously, “the altar was split apart and its ashes poured out according to the sign given by the man of God by the word of the Lord” (verse 5). The king requested the man of God to intercede for him and his hand. After the man of God healed the king’s hand, the king tried to reward him, but the man of God responded, “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'” (verse 9).

This man of God was diligent in obeying God’s threefold command. He refrained from eating or drinking and took a different route home. However, on his journey back, an older prophet approached him, stating, “I too am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house that he may eat bread and drink water'” (v.In verse 18, the second prophet deceived the man of God by falsely claiming to have received a divine message. Despite no angelic visitation or communication from God, the man of God trusted the old prophet and accompanied him home. During supper, the old prophet received a genuine revelation from God, rebuking the man of God for disobeying the Lord’s command not to eat or drink in a forbidden place. Consequently, the man of God was warned that he would not be buried with his ancestors (1 Kings 13:21-22). As the man of God departed, a lion attacked and killed him on the road, leaving his body unburied with a donkey and the lion standing beside it (verse 24).

The deceitful prophet buried the man of God in his own tomb and instructed his sons to bury him next to the deceased man upon his own death. This act demonstrated the old prophet’s genuine belief in the man of God’s authenticity, as his prophecies against the idolaters of Israel were expected to come to pass (1 Kings 13:31-32).

The narrative concludes with a mention of King Jeroboam’s persistent disobedience, appointing priests from all walks of life to serve at the high places, leading to the downfall and destruction of his house due to their sin (1 Kings 13:33-34).

This account illustrates the consequences of disobedience to the Lord, as both the righteous and the wicked faced judgment. The evil king suffered for his idolatry, while the man of God met a tragic end due to his transgression.No one is above the rules.

We also see that sometimes temptations come from surprising quarters. The king tempted the man of God to break God’s command, but the man of God refused. His guard was up, and there was no way he would disobey God for the sake of dining with an evil king. However, when a fellow prophet tempted the man of God to sin, he gave in. His guard was let down, and he did disobey God for the sake of dining with a (seemingly) genuine prophet.

When God speaks, the matter is settled. There is never an excuse for disobeying God’s Word. Even a fellow believer— even an angel descending from heaven— cannot nullify God’s Word (cf: Galatians 1:8-9).