Don’t Let Your Guard Down!
Photo by: Milosz Klinowski
This week in our Cover to Cover zoom meeting someone posed a great question, “What the heck is going on in 1 Kings 13?” Certainly, it’s a confusing and curious story about a prophet. This “ man of God” was commanded by God to travel to Bethel to confront the wayward King Jeroboam. God gave this man very specific instructions regarding what he could and couldn’t do on the journey. But we find that the man’s resolve becomes worn down over the course of the events that transpire. Resulting in a decision that carries disastrous consequences.
It serves as an important warning to all of us: don’t ever let your guard down. And always, ALWAYS, check with God.
Let me give you the backstory. Under the leadership of Saul, David, and Solomon, Israel became a powerful political entity. A true nation united with a centralized government under the umbrella of a centralized faith in the one true God. But these human kings, although anointed by God, displayed many imperfect tendencies, and gave into temptation and sin. Solomon, against the Law of Moses, multiplied horses, women, and money. His many foreign wives led him to worship false gods. So, God responded with a punishment: the kingdom of Israel would be torn in two.
Now mind you, God intended this to be a political division, not a division of faith. God still would have expected all of the people to worship God and participate in the festivals and sacrifices at the temple in Jerusalem. But the punishment came to pass. Israel indeed divided into two. The Northern Kingdom (made up of 10 tribes) was called Israel. The Southern Kingdom (made up of 2 tribes — Benjamin and Judah) was called Judah. Each had its own leader.
Jeroboam I was the king of Israel (the Northern Kingdom). But he worried that the people would be tempted to switch political allegiance if they traveled to the temple in Jerusalem (which was located in the Southern Kingdom). So, Jeroboam established two altars in his territory. One at Bethel (the southernmost point of his kingdom) and one at Dan (the northernmost point of his kingdom). Jeroboam then allowed anyone who wanted to serve as a priest. A HUGE transgression against God’s law which had established a specific tribe (the Levites) to serve as Israel’s priests.
The remnants of Jeroboam’s altar at Dan (the northernmost point of his kingdom)
So, when the prophet of God was called to confront Jeroboam, it was over this issue. Unsurprisingly, Jeroboam was not happy about the prophet’s condemnation. He tried to have the man seized, but God “dried up” Jeroboam’s hand. When Jeroboam asked the prophet to pray for relief on his behalf, the prophet did so. As a result, God healed Jeroboam, who invited the prophet to join him for a “reward.” But God had told the prophet not to eat or drink in that place, nor to even return to his home by the same route he had traveled. So, the prophet refused.
But then ….. temptation struck. A different man, an “old prophet” who lived in Bethel, followed the prophet and invited the man to his house. At first, the prophet resisted repeating his instructions from God not to eat or drink with anyone. But the “old prophet” lied. He told the prophet he had been informed to invite him to his house by an angel of God. So, the prophet went with the old prophet and God immediately pronounced punishment upon him. And when the prophet left to head home he was killed by a lion.
To our modern-day ears, it sounds so harsh, doesn’t it? Perhaps, like me, you’re tempted to say, “But God it had been such a long day. The prophet was tired and hungry. How was he to know that the other prophet, the “old prophet” was lying? How could you punish him so severely?”
Well, here’s the thing: with faith comes responsibility. With leadership, even more so. We are to be on guard at all times.
We read this even in the New Testament:
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.”
1 Peter 5:8-9a
Casting blame on someone or something else for our bad decisions doesn’t work (remember Adam and Eve tried it too). Deception is not an excuse for disobedience. God had told the prophet not to eat or drink and not to return by the way he had come. Period. No exceptions. When the “old prophet” lied, the man should have stood firm and held to his instructions. Unless God himself spoke and gave express permission contradicting God’s earlier command, the prophet should have steadfastly refused the invitation.
There’s another point to consider. The Bible does not say that God sent the lion that killed the prophet. What God says is this:
“Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord and have not kept the command that the Lord your God commanded you, but have come back and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to you,
‘Eat no bread and drink no water,’ your body shall not come to the tomb
of your fathers.”
1 Kings 13:21-22
Perhaps God’s original command was meant to SPARE the prophet from encountering the lion. Perhaps the command was meant to speed the prophet on his way so that the road home would be clear and safe for his passage. Perhaps by not following God’s command, the prophet brought about his own demise.
You see, sometimes God commands things that don’t make sense to us. Often when this happens, we rationalize or justify or explain it away. We think, “Well God wants me to be ….. (fill in the blank: happy, fed, prosperous, fulfilled).” We think, “But God loves me.” (Which is completely true: God absolutely loves and adores you). We wonder, “God how can this thing that I think is good and okay really be against the word of God?” And then we go our own way. We eat the forbidden fruit. We justify the sin.
It all comes down to perspective. We see through a mirror, dimly. We look at the parade passing by through a knot in the fence, only able to see what is right in front of us. God sees all. The whole parade. Clearly. Past, present, future as one eternal present. God knows and sees our hearts. He sees what lies ahead for each one of us. God knows the pitfalls, traps and temptations that lay in wait.
So, God commands us, sometimes very specifically. Sometimes more generally. And the story of 1 Kings 13 reminds us: we must simply OBEY.
But we don’t have to obey out of blind obedience. God has given us God’s Word as a revelation, to help us know God better. So that we might trust God more fully. Recognizing that we see so very little. Understanding that we cannot trust our eyes or emotions or circumstances. Holding to the truth that even when things don’t make sense we are being guided by a good, loving, gracious, merciful God. God who is for us and who is working all things together for the good of those who love God.
In our current modern times, especially in Western culture, we are being fed a lie. A lie that says: we can make our own truth. A lie that says: all that matters is our own personal happiness and fulfillment.
But my friends. How can we know truth? How can we know what will really make us happy or fulfilled, in the end? We see and know so very little in comparison to our great and good God.
Wouldn’t it be better to trust God? To embrace the momentary discomfort of self-sacrifice and moderation and even self-denial to follow the feet of the one who knows and sees ALL?
Unfortunately, it just takes one bad decision. In a moment of weakness. When we are worn down, and exhausted. It just takes one bad decision to steer us off course. But, not all hope is lost. We live on the other side of the cross. We have access to the Holy Spirit. We’ve been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. If we find ourselves where we should not be all we need to do is turn back to God and ask for his help. I promise, God will show up. God will lead you back to the road you are meant to travel.
So, my friends, stay the course. Be on guard! Hold fast to the Word of God which is TRUTH. If you are being led in a way that contradicts God’s Word, resist. Find a trusted Christian friend, talk to a pastor, pray about it — seek God to remove the temptation or clarify the situation.
Remember, God loves you and God is FOR YOU. God really is working all things for good. For now, when we can’t see the whole story, we simply must trust in that and keep following the feet of Jesus. One step at a time.
Rahab was waiting for God. And God came for her. In the form of two Israelite spies. And everything changed.
The truth is: God comes searching for each one of us. Sometimes through other people. Or the pages of the Bible. Perhaps the echoes of a sermon. Or via an experience that brings us to our knees. You see, there are no walls too high. No pit too deep. No sin too great. No pain too much for God to redeem. God always has been in the business of transformation. We see it over and over again in the pages of Scripture. We see it in our own stories.
So if you find yourself struggling today. With pain, loss, grief, illness, or simply the mundane tasks of life. Remember the story of Rahab. Know that God is with you. And God has the power to save, transform, redeem and heal. Sometimes all the pieces of that process take time. Perhaps we won’t see the knock-your-socks-off blessings until we get to heaven and see things from God’s perspective. But I promise you that God is at work.
And if you haven’t found faith yet. If you struggle with what and whom to believe. God has come for you too. God is waiting with open arms. God absolutely, completely, unconditionally loves you. The very desire of God’s heart is that you might love God in return.
In my own life, I ran from God a lot in my teens and early twenties. I struggled with big issues, like why God would allow people to suffer. And why God would allow evil to persist. I struggled with personal things, like could I be a Christian and still have fun. (I sort of thought all Christians would be like the church lady from Saturday Night Live). I struggled with the thought of family and friends who didn’t believe. I wondered if coming to faith would mean I had to leave those people behind. I struggled with sin. I struggled with finding my purpose. I just struggled. With. All. Of. It.
But then God came searching. In a lot of different ways. At first via my husband, Chad. Who explained faith in a logical way that resonated with my analytical mind. Then via a group of women at a Bible study at The Woodlands UMC. Then via the Bible itself, as I fell in love with God and with Jesus via the narratives and words of Scripture. Finally, on a boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. When I was struggling to discern the path ahead. God whispered in my ear, “It’s time to get out of the boat. I want you to be a pastor. I know you don’t think you’re capable to handle the task, but I will be with you.”
My friends, I, too, was one way. Now I’m completely different. And in the middle was Him. In the middle always is Him.
What about you? Do you have a story of transformation to tell? Or perhaps you are ready to dive into faith for the first time and experience the redeeming love of God? Leave me a comment below or simply type your name and I will pray for you.
