The narrative of the Man of God's disobedience and its subsequent consequence is found in 1 Kings 13. This account serves as a profound lesson on obedience, divine authority, and the severe repercussions of deviating from God's explicit commands.

Context and Background

The account unfolds during the reign of King Jeroboam in the northern kingdom of Israel. Jeroboam, having established a new religious system to consolidate his rule, erected altars and golden calves at Bethel and Dan, leading Israel into idolatry (1 Kings 12:28-30). In response to this apostasy, God sends a prophet, referred to as the "man of God," from Judah to Bethel to deliver a message of judgment against the altar.

The Prophetic Mission

The man of God arrives at Bethel as Jeroboam stands by the altar to burn incense. He proclaims a prophecy against the altar, declaring that a future king named Josiah will desecrate it by burning the bones of its priests upon it (1 Kings 13:2). As a sign of the prophecy's authenticity, the altar is miraculously split apart, and its ashes are poured out (1 Kings 13:3: "That day the man of God gave a sign, saying, 'This is the sign that the LORD has spoken: Surely the altar will be split apart, and the ashes upon it will be poured out.'").

The King's Reaction and the Man of God's Obedience

King Jeroboam, angered by the prophecy, stretches out his hand to seize the man of God, but his hand withers, rendering him unable to draw it back (1 Kings 13:4). The king pleads for the man of God to intercede with the LORD to restore his hand, which the man of God does, and the king's hand is healed (1 Kings 13:6).

Despite the king's invitation to dine with him and receive a reward, the man of God refuses, adhering strictly to God's command: "You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came" (1 Kings 13:9). He departs by a different route, demonstrating his initial obedience to God's directive.

The Deceptive Encounter and Disobedience

The narrative takes a tragic turn when an old prophet living in Bethel hears of the man of God's actions. He deceives the man of God by claiming that an angel instructed him to bring the man of God back to his house to eat and drink (1 Kings 13:18: "But the old prophet answered, 'I too am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.'' But he was lying to him.").

The man of God, swayed by the old prophet's false claim, returns to Bethel and partakes of food and drink, directly contravening the divine command he had received.

The Consequence of Disobedience

While they are at the table, the word of the LORD comes to the old prophet, declaring that because the man of God disobeyed the LORD's command, he will not be buried in the tomb of his fathers (1 Kings 13:21-22). Upon leaving, the man of God is killed by a lion on the road, a fulfillment of the divine judgment pronounced upon him (1 Kings 13:24: "As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his body was left lying on the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it.").

Theological Implications

This account underscores the importance of unwavering obedience to God's word, highlighting the dangers of being led astray by false teachings or deceptive influences. It serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness with which God views His commands and the potential consequences of disobedience, even for those who are His messengers. The account also illustrates the complexity of human interactions with divine instructions and the necessity of discernment in spiritual matters.