Scripture – “Then the king said to the man of God, “Intercede with the Lord your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored and became as it was before. The king said to the man of God, “Come home with me for a meal, and I will give you a gift.” But the man of God answered the king, “Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water here. For I was commanded by the word of the Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.’ ” So he took another road and did not return by the way he had come to Bethel.”
1 Kings 13:6-10 NIV
Observation – God instructs a man of God to prophesy against King Jeroboam. The king wants to kill the man for bringing bad news but God causes the king’s hand to shrivel up. The man of God prays for him, God restores the king’s hand and then the king invites him to dinner. The man says he can’t stay because God told him not to eat or drink in that place or go back the way he came. An old prophet finds the man of God and lies to him, telling him that an angel told him it would be okay for him to stay and eat and drink. The man of God stays, eats and drinks and God sends a lion to murder him for disobeying.
Application – If you know God very well and he gives you specific instructions why would you not obey him. God told me, when my kids were very young never to drink alcohol again. I truly believe that God would send a “lion” to punish me if I decided it would be okay to do it now.
Prayer – Lord help us to take you very seriously. Amen.
What are you doing? Do it better 