1 Kings 13

[Don]

Help me out; starting in verse 11, we see an old prophet leading a man of God astray and causing his demise. Would you call this old prophet a "man of God?" Why did he lie to the other man of God? Why do you think God placed this story here for us to read?

 

[Cypress]

Don, It looks to me like the old man of God had become complicit in some of Jereboams disobedience to God. The second prophet was punished for going against Gods direct instruction to him. It appears that only the lion was fully obedient in this story. Are you seeing it similarly?

 

[Don]

Lion - yes.

Young prophet - yes.

Old prophet - hadn't thought of it in terms of complicity. Was thinking along the lines of jealousy.

I notice you call the younger a prophet; does that mean that if we refer to the younger as "man of God," we can also refer to the older as "man of God"? Secondary question here is, those who revere "the man of God," what lesson do we take from this passage?

 

[Scarlett O.]

Here's what David Guzik has to say. I find it interesting.

So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water: The man of God from Judah listened to the lie from the prophet of Bethel. He did this for several reasons:

· The prophet from Bethel was probably older (an old prophet, 1 Kings 13:11) and had the respect of the man of God.
· The prophet from Bethel identified with the man of God (I too am a prophet as you are).
· The prophet from Bethel claimed a spectacular experience (an angel spoke to me).
· The prophet from Bethel claimed to speak for the Lord (by the word of the Lord).
· The prophet from Bethel did not seem to be an idolater who should be shunned (Bring him back with you to your house).
· The prophet from Bethel offered no reward, other than simple food (he may eat bread and drink water)

No matter how natural and seductive this enticement was, it was the duty of the man of God to resist it. He had a word from God to guide his actions, and should receive no other word accept through dramatic and direct confirmation by God’s Spirit. His failure at this point ended his usefulness as a man of God.

 

[Don]

No matter how natural and seductive this enticement was, it was the duty of the man of God to resist it. He had a word from God to guide his actions, and should receive no other word accept through dramatic and direct confirmation by God’s Spirit. His failure at this point ended his usefulness as a man of God.

How many of our young men in bible schools went there knowing that God had a certain plan for them, but were subsequently told by respected, elder men of God they should go a different way?