Then the king answered and said to the man of God, “Please entreat the favor of the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” (1 Kings 13:6)
It is unfortunate that Jeroboam's fear of God did not lead to repentance. Did you notice how Jeroboam asked the man of God to pray? He said, “Please entreat the Lord your (notice the word your) God.”
I find it interesting that he did not say , “Please entreat the Lord OUR God.” It shows just how far Jeroboam had already strayed away from God.
He said to him, “I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’” (He was lying to him.) (1 Kings 13:18)
The same God who told you don’t do a particular thing would not tell someone else to tell you to do it. The LORD would speak to you directly.
When God speaks, the matter is settled. There is never an excuse for disobeying God’s Word. Even a fellow believer—even an angel descending from heaven—cannot nullify God’s Word (cf. Galatians 1:8–9).
Temptations come from surprising quarters. The king tempted the man of God to break God’s command, but the man of God refused. His guard was up, and there was no way he would disobey God for the sake of dining with an evil king. However, when a fellow prophet tempted the man of God to sin, he gave in. His guard was let down, and he did disobey God for the sake of dining with a (seemingly) genuine prophet.
Be careful of temptation coming from people who are believers or call themselves Christians.
First, we should test every spirit or prophecy to see if it is from God (1 John 4:1-2. Not every person who claims to speak the mind of God is necessarily from God. Some are from satan, intent on destroying our faith.
Lord Jesus rebuked Peter openly when he tried to stand in the way of the Cross (Matthew 16:23). God's word must remain the radar and mast for our spiritual journey.
And when he had gone, a lion met him by the road and slew him, and his corpse was cast in the way, and the donkey stood by it; the lion also stood by the corpse. (1 Kings 13:24)
The evil king faced judgment because of his idolatry. And the man of God likewise faced judgment for his disobedience. No one is above the rules. With great power carries great responsibility.
The person who brings the word of God is not perfect, but it is still the word of God, be careful to obey it.
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