Articles
When Our Guard Is Down
In I Kings 3, the historian describes the mission of a prophet of Judah, not named in scripture, who publicly and fearlessly denounced King Jeroboam for his innovations in Israel (I Kings 13:1-10).Another prophet, an older man of Bethel, learned from his sons about the work of the prophet from Judah. He went to this unnamed prophet and bade him come to his home and eat with him, which the prophet of Judah had been forbidden by the Lord to do. The older prophet fabricated a story: an angelic vision had instructed him to bring the man of God back home with him (13:18). The historian clearly cites the truth when he writes, “But he lied unto him.” The prophet of Judah believed the lie, and went to the old prophet’s house to eat with him. See how quickly obedience can turn to disobedience when one’s guard is down!
Then the older prophet receives a genuine communication from God. In it, he is forced to admit his lie, and pronounces the consequences that will come to the prophet of Judah. The punishment for disobedience was severe: death.
Disobedience brings punishment, irrespective of past faithfulness and service to God. Sadly, this devout man was deceived, and consequently violated the specific instructions of the Lord (13:11-19). As a result of his actions, God declared that Divine condemnation was all that he could expect for his disobedience (13:20-26).
Let each of us learn this important truth. Unless we have book, chapter and verse, no matter how sincerely we believe a thing, it is still a “lie.” Peter’s injunction is certainly needed in our day: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God…” (I Pet.4:11). The apostle John writes, “…Many false prophets are gone out into the world.”The lesson: Satan is constantly at work and we cannot afford to let our guard down even for an instant.
