Read 1 Kings 13:1-30
“…It is the man of God who was disobedient to the word of the Lord. Therefore the Lord has delivered him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke to him.”—1 Kings 13:26
A man of God traveled from Judah to Bethel to deliver a message of condemnation against the idolatry King Jeroboam brought to Israel. The man of God was given strict guidance by God, to “not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way” as he carried out his mission. So, when the evil King Jeroboam offered him an opportunity to be refreshed and rewarded for his service, the man of God rejected the offer.
Yet, when an old prophet approached him saying an angel instructed that the man of God come dine with him, the man of God accepted the offer. Unfortunately, the old prophet lied, and as a result of his disobedience, the man of God was killed by a lion on the way home.
Both invitations were contrary to God’s guidance but, because the second invitation came from a “reliable” source, the man of God accepted it. The man of God, who received the instructions from God, paid for his disobedience with his life. The lesson— we are accountable for knowing the Word of God for ourselves and obeying that word, regardless what others say or do.
In a world of diverse doctrines from varying sources, it can be challenging to determine what’s the truth. Yet, God speaks clearly, guiding us to the truth. Not by what we feel, hear or see. Instead, He guides us to the truth by His Word. As an older, wiser deacon once noted, “You can’t trust what you feel, you can only trust what the Word of God says!”
No matter how good the words sound, how well the message is packaged, how eloquent the messenger, if the message isn’t aligned with the Word of God, it’s not the truth. When in doubt, go to the Word of God and let God speak for Himself!
Lesson Learned: It’s okay to trust the Man of God but verify his words by the Word of God.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”—1 John 4:1
