What lessons on obedience can we learn from the prophet's journey? The Narrative Snapshot “and he went after the man of God and found him sitting under an oak. And he asked him, ‘Are you the man of God who came from Judah?’ ‘I am,’ he said.” (1 Kings 13:14) • God sent a prophet from Judah to denounce Jeroboam’s altar (vv. 1–10). • The prophet received clear instructions: “You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.” (v. 9) • An old prophet from Bethel pursued him, claimed an angelic revelation, and lured him home to eat (vv. 11–19). • Because he listened to the lie, the man of God was judged and killed by a lion (vv. 20–24). First Lesson: Obedience Requires Complete Follow-Through • Partial obedience cost the prophet his life. • 1 Samuel 15:22—“To obey is better than sacrifice.” Saul’s partial obedience led to rejection; the unnamed prophet suffered similarly. • God values unwavering adherence over good intentions or impressive beginnings. Second Lesson: Obedience Above All Voices • The old prophet sounded spiritual but contradicted God’s earlier word. • Acts 5:29—“We must obey God rather than men.” • Galatians 1:8—Even an “angel” preaching another gospel must be rejected. • When any voice clashes with God’s explicit command, loyalty to the Lord always wins. Third Lesson: Obedience and Spiritual Discernment • Deuteronomy 13:1-4 warns that even a sign-working prophet must be rejected if he urges disobedience. • The man of God failed to test the new message. • Proverbs 3:5-6—Trust in the Lord with all your heart, not in flimsy confirmations or charismatic personalities. Fourth Lesson: Obedience and the Fear of the Lord • Judgment came swiftly, underscoring God’s holiness. • Ecclesiastes 12:13—“Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” • Holy fear guards us from casual compromise. Fifth Lesson: Obedience and Testimony to Others • The lion stood by the donkey without devouring it—a supernatural tableau. • The scene became a living sermon to onlookers (vv. 25-32). • Our obedience or disobedience never stays private; it instructs those who watch our lives. Living the Lessons Today • Guard the specific instructions God has already given in Scripture; they are non-negotiable. • Weigh every new “word,” dream, or counsel against the written Word. • Cultivate holy fear—a reverent awareness that God means what He says. • Remember that true obedience glorifies God, protects us, and shapes the faith of others. |
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