A Man of God Goes to Bethel
May 25, 2019
Commentary
Just as Jeroboam was about to burn incense at the altar at Bethel a prophet of God from Judah appeared. He pronounced one of the most remarkable prophecies in all of Scripture as he predicted the name and actions of a king who would not appear on the scene for almost 300 years. This was a prophecy of judgment fully authorized by God (vv. 1-3). That king was Josiah who fulfilled this prophecy just as the man of God predicted. (2 Kings 23:15-20)
Enraged at the words, Jeroboam pointed at the prophet and ordered him to be seized (v. 4). At that very moment Jeroboam’s hand withered and the altar split open and the ashes spilled. When the king pleaded for God to restore his hand the Lord graciously did so. This miracle left no doubt in the minds of those present that the prophecy came from God who controlled Jeroboam and who would judge his wickedness. Praise the Lord that even though we mess up God will forgive us and bless our life, is we just ask for his forgiveness and call out for His restoration.
The king then offered shelter and a meal in his place to the prophet. However the man of God wanted no treaty with this wicked Jeroboam and refused to eat or sleep in his palace (vv. 5-6). A second prophet was living in Bethel who was old. It appears that he was complacent and compromised in the wickedness of the king as he worshiped false gods. When the young prophet from Judah left town the old prophet rode after him. Why the old prophet rode after the prophet from Judah is not stated (vv. 11-14). When the old man claimed special revelation from God the younger prophet listened and agreed to return to Bethel where he ate with him (vv. 15-19). Apostasy was spreading quickly.
Application
The Bible is filled with stories of people who had direction from God but choose to compromise and go their own way like Jeroboam did. His example should cause me to recognize compromise, admit disobedience and ask God to forgive me.
1 Kings 13:1– 19 (NET)
1 Just then a prophet arrived from Judah with the Lord’s message for Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing near the altar ready to offer a sacrifice. 2 He cried out against the altar with the Lord’s message, “O altar, altar! This is what the Lord has said, ‘Look, a son named Josiah will be born to the Davidic dynasty. He will sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who offer sacrifices on you. Human bones will be burned on you.’” 3 That day he had also given a sign, saying, “This is the sign that the Lord has declared: The altar will split open and the ashes on it will pour out.” 4 When the king heard the prophet’s message that he had cried out against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam took his hand from the altar and pointed it saying, “Seize him!” Then the hand that he had pointed at him stiffened up, and he could not pull it back. 5 Meanwhile the altar split open, and the ashes poured from the altar in fulfillment of the sign the prophet had given with the Lord’s message. 6 The king responded to the prophet, “Seek the favor of the Lord your God and pray for me, so that my hand may be restored.” So the prophet sought the Lord’s favor and the king’s hand was restored as it was at first. 7 The king then said to the prophet, “Come home with me and have something to eat, so that I may give you a gift.” 8 But the prophet said to the king, “Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I would not go with you. I am not allowed to eat food or drink water in this place. 9 For this is how I was commanded in the Lord’s message, ‘Eat no food. Drink no water. And do not return by the way you came.’” 10 So he started back on another road; he did not travel back on the same road he had taken to Bethel.
11 Now there was an old prophet living in Bethel. When his sons came home, they told him everything the prophet had done in Bethel that day. And they told their father all the words that he had spoken to the king. 12 Their father asked them, “Which road did he take?” His sons showed him the road the prophet from Judah had taken. 13 He then told his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” When they had saddled the donkey for him, he mounted it 14 and took off after the prophet, whom he found sitting under an oak tree. He asked him, “Are you the prophet from Judah?” He answered, “Yes, I am.” 15 He then said to him, “Come home with me and eat something.” 16 But he replied, “I can’t go back with you. I am not allowed to eat food or to drink water with you in this place. 17 For an order came to me in the Lord’s message, ‘Eat no food. Drink no water there. And do not return by the way you came.’” 18 Then the old prophet said, “I too am a prophet like you. And an angel has told me in a message from the Lord, ‘Bring him back with you to your house so he can eat food and drink water.’” But he had lied to him. 19 So the prophet went back with him. He ate food in his house and he drank water.