What lessons can we learn about obedience from the events in 1 Kings 13? The Shattered Altar Speaks “the altar was split apart, and the ashes poured out from it, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.” (1 Kings 13:5) When God’s Word Speaks, It Stands • The altar’s sudden collapse fulfilled the prophet’s pronouncement instantly, proving that every syllable God utters is certain (Isaiah 55:11). • No human authority—Jeroboam’s royal command, the crowd’s expectations, even the prophet’s own limitations—can hinder God from keeping His word. • Obedience, then, begins with confidence: if God said it, it is already settled (Psalm 119:89). Three Living Object Lessons on Obedience 1. Jeroboam: blatant rebellion – He built an unauthorized altar (1 Kings 12:28–33) and stretched out his hand to seize the prophet (13:4). – God’s immediate judgment on his hand and the altar shows how swiftly disobedience reaps consequences (Numbers 32:23). 2. The first prophet: immediate obedience, later compromise – He boldly delivered God’s message and refused the king’s reward (13:7–9). – Yet when he accepted a false “word from the LORD” and ate in Bethel, judgment followed (13:18–24). – Lesson: partial or delayed obedience turns triumph into tragedy (1 Samuel 15:22). 3. The old prophet: deceptive manipulation – He spoke a lie “in the name of the LORD” (13:18). – His disobedience was subtler—twisting truth—reminding us that leading others astray is itself disobedience (Matthew 18:6). Immediate Obedience Brings Protection • While the first prophet stayed within God’s explicit boundaries—no bread, no water, another route—he was shielded, even amid a hostile king. • John 14:23 links obedience to intimacy and safety: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him.” Delayed or Partial Obedience Invites Loss • The same mouth that sealed the altar also foretold the prophet’s death once he ate in Bethel (13:21–22). • James 1:22 warns against hearing without doing; neglect transforms blessing into judgment. The Authority Behind the Command • The phrase “by the word of the LORD” appears repeatedly (vv. 1, 2, 5, 21, 32), underscoring that the standard for obedience is divine, not human. • Deuteronomy 4:2 forbids adding to or subtracting from God’s word; the old prophet’s lie violated that boundary. Echoes in the New Testament • Hebrews 4:12—God’s word still “divides,” just as the word in Bethel literally divided the altar. • Acts 5:29—“We must obey God rather than men,” mirroring the young prophet’s initial resolve. • Luke 11:28—“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it,” summarizing the entire chapter’s lesson. Bringing It Home Today • Treat every clear directive of Scripture as non-negotiable. • Measure every “new word” or advice against the written Word; if it contradicts, reject it. • Respond quickly—delayed obedience is simply disobedience on hold. • Remember that obedience is relational: the God who split the altar is the same Savior who split the veil (Matthew 27:51) so we can walk closely with Him. |
    |