1st Kings 13:1-32. This is the story of a man of God and his disobedience to God’s instructions. The instructions were simple and straight forward. God sometimes speaks to us through several means; when he speaks we know, but like this prophet we sometimes go contrary to the instructions, God gives to us. God speaks to us by his word and some of these instructions are definite and straight forward but we chose to disobey.
This man of God no doubt was instructed of God to go out and prophesy to a king and a city. Also God gave him a personal and definite instruction that he was supposed to obey and it was only he who knew the instructions; it was not part of the word of prophecy to others. The instruction was not public and many of us have received personal instruction of the Lord. The question is what were the instructions and how to approach such instructions.
The instructions (prophecy) were as follows : (1st Kings 13:1-3),

1. Go to Bethel and prophesy against the altar and the person (Josiah) who will do it.
2. He gave a sign from the Lord to confirm the prophecy.

The personal instructions were as follows: (1st Kings 13:17),

• For it was said to me by the word of the Lord, “Thou shall eat no bread nor drink water there.
• Nor again to go by the way that thou camest.

This assignment from God to this prophet was a serious business; God’s instructions may be simple but remember it is always a serious affair. God does not play around, and speak for speaking sake. Look at other instructions from God and see how simple but powerful and serious they are, such as:

1. Matt. 4:19, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
2. Matt. 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
3. Matt. 18:3, “Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
4. Luke 8:21, “My mother and my brethren are these who hear the word of God, and do it.”
5. Luke 11:13, “how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
6. Luke 14:27, “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”
7. Luke 15:10, “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”
8. John 3:3, “Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” God’s instructions are simple but powerful and true.

The prophet from Judah, obeyed the instructions of God by giving out the prophecies as instructed. But then he made his personal instructions public, by saying to any one’s ear that he should not eat, drink or go back the same way. Let me make this clear, these were secret instructions for his own life and safety; but he did not guard his personal instructions well, in a place God was trying to bring a revival and turn the people from their wicked ways.

• The prophet prophesied, the sign of the torn down altar was fulfilled.
• King Jeroboam’s hand dried up when he stretched his hand on the altar saying, ” lay hold o the prophet.”
• Jeroboam asked the man of God to pray for him, and he did and the hand was restored whole.

These events show that this man from Judah was a real man of God, he prophesied and it came to pass, he prayed for King Jeroboam’s dried hand and life returned to it. He had thus saith the Lord with him.

THE OLD PROPHET
In 1st Kings 13:18 the old prophet lied to the man of God who spoke too much about God’s instruction to him. The old prophet said, “I am a prophet also, as thou art; and an angel spoke unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, “Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.” So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.

• The old prophet lied using the words, prophet also, angel, and the word of God.
• Which is higher and more authoritative God or an angel when you hear of instructions.
• Know God’s voice and word (Paul said even if an angel comes and says otherwise listen not) Galatians 1:8-10.
• Know the voice of the Lord to you, Know the scriptures, obey God’s instruction directly to you.
• Examine the words of the old prophet and believe not every spirit, but test every spirit ( 1st John 4:1).

JUDGMENT
1st Kings 13:20-32, is a section of the scripture that every Christian should study and walk the Christian path cautiously, because God means business and his words must come to pass.

• The prophet from Judah disobeyed the commandment of God and did all that God told him not to do; and God said by the old prophet, “thy carcass shall not come unto the sepulcher of thy fathers.”
• On the way back to Judah a lion slew him, but did not eat the body, did not touch the donkey on which he rode from the house of the old prophet; also the lion did not attack men passing by, judgment.
• God’s word by the old prophet came to pass; he died, buried, but not in the sepulcher of his fathers.

Finally, the old prophet made a WILL OR POWER OF ATTORNEY stating in 1stKing 13:31-32, “When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulcher in which the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones; for the saying which he cried by the word of the Lord against the altar in Bethel, and —–shall surely come to pass.” Be careful how you handle the personal instructions of the Lord to you, watch out for the old prophet and do not believe every spirit but test the spirit and what they say if it matches the scriptures. When God has spoken no angel can say otherwise.