He Lied

Moses was a “man of God.” Says so in Deuteronomy 33:1, Joshua 14:6. In Judges 13:6, Manoah refers to an angel of the Lord as being a “man of God.” Such a “man of God” spoke to Eli in 1 Samuel 2:27. 1 Samuel 9 speaks of Saul visiting a “man of God”, defined in 9:9 as a seer or prophet. 1 Kings 17:18 we read Elijah called a “man of God”, too.

Seventy-three verses in the Bible contain the term “man of God”, only two in the New Testament – 1 Timothy 6:11 and 2 Timothy 3:17.

It was 1 Kings 13 that held my attention, though. A full chapter to tell a factual story, yet never explaining why nor wherefore.

The man of God out of Judah stands before the altar, in front of Jeroboam and prophesies the birth of Josiah about 300 years before the event. Jeroboam’s response cost him the use of his hand until the man of God besought the Lord.

Declining food and drink, as charged by the Lord, this unidentified man of God heads home by a different route, as charged by the word of the Lord.

We’re then introduced to an unnamed, old prophet in Bethel. The man of God declined his offer of food and drink, again as charged by the Lord. The old prophet assured him that he heard the word of the Lord saying to bring him bread to eat and water to drink.

How thoughtful. The man of God had complied with the instructions and did not eat with king Jeroboam, against whom he prophesied, but here was another, as himself, sent from God and offering sustenance.

But he lied unto him. (1 Kings 13:18b)

How oft we do the same as this man of God. We’re living within God’s will, following the precepts we’ve learned and have prayerfully considered, understanding what has been given us to do. We come to a place where we are to give us something. For this man of God, he was to give up bread and water on his journey. God has something else in mind for us, and we are living as we should, but we come to a spot where we’re aware of what we’ve given up or are doing without.

Along comes another and tells us “You don’t have to do that. God himself has given me instructions that you should have everything you want. Go ahead, take it.”

For a moment I began typing a list of examples, but erased them. Such a list could go on for reams, especially if specific instances were given. There’s no need. Each of us know of examples where someone serving God heeded another’s voice saying Ye shall not surely die: (Genesis 3:4b)

We accept those words, though inside we know he lied (1 Kings 13:18b)