Almost immediately following the death of King Solomon, we see that God’s prophecy regarding the split of the kingdom takes place. Only Judah continues to lift Solomon’s son up as their king. The rest of Israel makes Jeroboam their king.
God had spoken to Jeroboam and told him that this would happen. Jeroboam expected it. Yet Jeroboam did something that seemed all too common for the time, he listened to some poor advice. He decided, out of fear, that he needed to have a place of worship created to compete with – and potentially sway all together – the need for the Israelites to go to the Temple in Jerusalem to worship God. He was afraid that the people might be swayed back into serving Solomon’s son based solely on the power of the Temple’s location.
His reasoning somewhat makes sense. However, Jeroboam did not just set up another location to worship the God of Israel. Instead, Jeroboam made two gold calves and tried to pass them off as the gods who brought the people out of Israel. Amazingly, the people followed Jeroboam’s lead. And this action was detestable to God. Understandably so.
So God sent a prophet to prophesy against King Jeroboam and his idols. It becomes evident that the prophet is speaking God’s word, as even in the midst of their interaction, God’s word comes true. God’s power is displayed through the paralyzation of Jeroboam’s hand and the splitting apart of the altar.
We don’t know the name of this prophet. We don’t know much about him before or after this one opportunity to fulfill the word of the LORD. All we know is that this man is from the tribe of Judah and that while he followed God’s direction to a point – refusing to accept food or drink from the king or to return home the way he had come – this prophet places trust in one he should not.
The prophet from Judah ends up being persuaded (and lied to) by an old prophet who lived in Bethel. The old prophet introduces himself and extends hospitality to the prophet from Judah and instead of analyzing the words extended or comparing them to the words of God, the Judean prophet accepts the invitation, returns to the old prophets home and shares a meal.
What happens next? There is a cost to our disobedience. It is after this action has taken place that the old prophet actually does receive a word from the LORD, and it does not bode well for the prophet of Judah. “This is what the LORD says: You have defied the word of the LORD and have disobeyed the command the LORD your God gave you. You came back to this place and ate and drank where he told you not to eat or drink. Because of this, your body will not be buried in the grave of your ancestors.” (1 Kings 13: 21-22)
You see, friend, God doesn’t give us a word and then contradict it. He doesn’t command something and then through the mouth of another (whether they claim to be speaking from Him or not), change His message. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His word stands. We cannot blindly rely on others to communicate for God. We must check what is being said against what God says in His word. If it doesn’t match, it’s not God’s word. God doesn’t change.
Had the prophet from Judah stayed strong in his resolve to follow what God had spoken to him, his life would have ended differently. Instead, this prophet bought into deception. And just a few hours later while leaving for home, on a donkey supplied to him by the deceiving prophet, the prophet of Judah is killed by a lion. He is not eaten. His body is found lying next to the donkey and the lion who are both standing together, making it evident that this was no natural attack, but rather allowed by God.
Why? Disobedience. There is always a consequence for our disobedience. Friend, we cannot blindly trust that others are speaking God’s truth. We must learn to identify when God’s voice and not stray from it. It is the only way to remain obedient. God still speaks, just remember God does not contradict Himself.
Blessings!