Today's Reading - 1 Kings 13

The Lying Prophet

In 1 Kings 13, we have an instructional incident involving a young prophet (aka “man of God”). This young prophet encountered an older prophet, who invited him to dinner. At first, the young man refused this invitation because he had been commanded by God not to eat or drink while in Bethel. God had specifically told him to return to Judah without accepting hospitality.

But the older prophet insisted. He tried to turn the young prophet away from what God had told him to do.  He lied to him about a so-called “revelation” that he says he received from the Lord, I received a word from the Lord telling me to bring you back to my home to eat and drink.” In fact he tells him, “an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD.” According to verse 18, this was a lie. This so-called prophet from Bethel gave a false word from God, trying to persuade the younger man to change his course from doing exactly what God had told him. Tragically, the young man listened to bad counsel rather than obeying a direct word from the Lord.

The lesson for us is this: We must obey God rather than man, even when man professes to be in contact with God and gives us a “word from the Lord.” When we have received a direct command fresh from the lips of Christ, we must act on it, and not be turned aside by a different suggestion, made to us through the lips of professing Christians.

This young prophet was persuaded to disobey God’s direct command for several reasons. First, because of his age. The prophet from Bethel was older, thus he was afforded a certain credibility as one who was more experienced. Second, because of his profession of being “a prophet of God.” The younger man thus identified him as one with wisdom and authority. Third, because of an alleged supernatural miracle. The older man declared that “an angel” had spoken to him. If true, this would certainly be reason to sit up and take notice of his message. Finally, because the older prophet declared his words as “a word from the Lord.”

You must be careful never to let someone’s age, status, experiences, or declarations persuade you to disobey a direct word from the Lord. Just because someone “seems” to be in touch with the Lord, this is not enough of a reason to listen to and obey their word. You must stay true to the word of God. Exercise your God-given discernment and obey what the Lord has spoken to you. If someone in a position of spiritual authority (pastor, elder, evangelist, preacher, prophet) gives you a word that contradicts the word which God has given directly to you, (even if they are older, more experienced, have greater status, and declare miraculous happenings) you must reject their word and stay true to God’s word.