Why did the king invite the man of God to his home? Setting the scene • Jeroboam has just overseen the dedication of his new altar at Bethel (1 Kings 12:32–33). • A “man of God out of Judah” arrives, condemns the altar, and prophesies its eventual destruction (13:1–3). • As the king stretches out his hand to seize the prophet, “his hand, which he stretched out against him, withered, so that he could not pull it back to himself” (13:4). • Upon the king’s plea for mercy, the man of God prays, “and the king’s hand was restored to him and became as it was before” (13:6). The king’s invitation in 1 Kings 13:7 “Then the king said to the man of God, ‘Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.’ ” Why did Jeroboam extend this invitation? 1. Recognition of divine power • The instantaneous drying and restoring of his hand convinced Jeroboam that the prophet carried genuine, God-given authority (cf. Luke 5:8; Acts 14:11). • A king who had just felt God’s judgment and mercy wanted the source of that power close by. 2. Desire to show gratitude—or to appear grateful • In Near-Eastern culture, material gifts and shared meals expressed thanks (Genesis 24:52–53; 2 Kings 5:15). • Yet Jeroboam’s later conduct shows his “gratitude” was superficial (1 Kings 13:33–34). 3. Attempt to neutralize the rebuke • Inviting the prophet home could soften the public sting of the earlier condemnation. • Hospitality might have cloaked his unchanged commitment to the golden calves (1 Kings 12:28–30; Proverbs 28:13). 4. Hope to secure future favor • Having a miracle-working man of God under his roof could serve political ends—much like Balak tried to hire Balaam (Numbers 22–24). • A reward might purchase continued blessings, mirroring Naaman’s impulse in 2 Kings 5:15–16. 5. Human instinct to bargain with God’s messenger • Simon Magus tried to buy the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:18–20); Jeroboam may have thought similar payment would keep judgment at bay. • Scripture repeatedly warns against such manipulation (Deuteronomy 10:17; Galatians 6:7). Why the man of God refused (implied answer to the king’s motives) • God had clearly commanded, “You shall eat no bread and drink no water there, and you must not return by the way you came” (1 Kings 13:9). • Obedience outweighed courtesy, reward, or royal pressure (Acts 5:29). Timeless lessons • Miracles can awaken awe, yet without repentance the heart remains unchanged (John 12:37–40). • God’s servants must guard against flattery, gifts, and invitations that conflict with divine instruction (Numbers 16:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:5). • Partial gratitude that leaves idolatry untouched is no gratitude at all (Psalm 50:16–17; Matthew 15:8). Related Scriptures that illuminate Jeroboam’s motives • 1 Samuel 15:30 – Saul seeks to “honor” Samuel after disobeying, showing image management over repentance. • Proverbs 17:23 – “A wicked man takes a bribe in secret to pervert the course of justice.” • Hosea 10:5–8 – Later prophets expose the emptiness of Jeroboam’s calf worship. Jeroboam’s invitation looked generous, but Scripture exposes the deeper mix of fear, flattery, and self-interest driving it. |
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