What does the Bible say about disobedience to God? There are many examples in the Bible of disobedience to God. One of these examples is the story about the man of God from Judah, who God sent to deliver a word to king Jeroboam in 1 Kings 13. The man of God was faithful to the Lord until he met an old prophet, who tempted him with his lies and caused the man of God to become disobedient to the voice of God. In this story, we not only read about his disobedience to God, but we also read about the consequences of disobedience to God.
The man of God was obedience to the word of the Lord
In the first book of Kings, chapter 13, we read about a man of God from Judah, who had received a word from the Lord, for king Jeroboam. He went to Bethel, to king Jeroboam, to deliver the Word of the Lord. When he arrived, Jeroboam was standing at the altar, ready to burn incense.
The man of God cried against the altar, and said: O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.
And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the Lord has spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.
When king Jeroboam heard these words, he put forth his hand and said: Lay hold on him. But when he put forth his hand against him, it dried up, so that he could not pull his hand back again.
The man of God turned down the king’s invitation and stayed obedient to the Lord
Then the altar was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the word of the Lord. Jeroboam went to the man of God, and asked him to entreat the face of his Lord, and pray to Him, so that He would restore his hand. And so, the man of God besought the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored.
The king invited the man of God into his home, so that he could refresh himself. The king also wanted to give him a reward. But the man of God answered:
“If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: For so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou came.”
After the man of God spoke these words, he went home and took another way.
So far, the man of God obeyed the Lord completely. He was not tempted by comfort, by stilling his appetite by having a nice meal, and a good drink. Nor was the man of God tempted by greed, by accepting a reward.
The man of God was faithful to the word of the Lord and did not depart from His words. Not even a little bit.
The old prophet from Bethel
But then it happened…. The son of an old prophet, who lived in Bethel, told his father about what happened. As soon as the old prophet heard what happened, the old prophet commanded his sons to saddle his donkey. When his donkey was saddled, the old prophet went after the man of God, and he found him sitting under an oak.
1 Kings 13:15-26
Then the old prophet said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and eat bread. And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: For it was said to me by the word of the Lord, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou came. He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake 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. And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came unto the prophet that brought him back: And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee, But came back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.
And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back. And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.
And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the Lord: therefore the Lord hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake unto him (1 Kings 13:15-26).
Disobedience of God
In 1 Kings 13:15-26, we read that the old prophet asked the man of God, if he was the man of God from Judah. The man of God confirmed, that he was indeed the man of God from Judah. Then the old prophet invited the man of God to his home to eat bread.
But the man of God said: “I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: for it was said to me by the word of the Lord, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou came”.
But the old prophet said unto him: “I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake 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.
The man of God believed the lie of the prophet above the words of God
This old prophet lied to him. Instead that the man of God staying obedient to the words of God, the man of God believed the words of the old prophet, above the words of God.
So, he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came unto the prophet, that brought him back. He said to the man of God: “Thus saith the Lord, forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee, But came back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers”.
The consequences of disobedience to God
Then the man of God returned home. But on his way, a lion met him by the way, and slew him. And his carcass was cast in the way, and the donkey stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcass.
Some men saw his body and returned to the city of Bethel and told them, what happened. The old prophet heard what happened and said: “It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the Lord: therefore the Lord has delivered him unto the lion, which has torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the Lord, which He spake unto him”.
God’s Word is above the words of people
We don’t know, why this old prophet mislead the man of God. We can only guess. But we can learn a lesson. And that’s to believe and obey God’s Word and His commandments above all. Even above the words of people and above the words of (well-known, famous) prophets.
When people give you advice, a word or a prophecy, which doesn’t line up with the Word of God, you must reject it. Even if it’s a beautiful word or wonderful prophecy.
God will never turn Himself against His own Word.
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His Word will never change.
When God has spoken, He has spoken, and we should obey God.
If we really love God, then we will obey Him. Because if you love Him, you only want to do what pleases Him.
Don’t be a hypocrite
When we choose Him to become our Lord, it means, that we should obey Him above all. If you don’t want to obey Him, and His words, then don’t call yourself a Christian. Don’t go to church out of obligation. If that’s the case, then you can rather stop going to church and continue with your life by obeying your flesh, and living like the world, because that’s what you really want to do.
Don’t be a hypocrite and don’t change the Word of God, so it will fit your lifestyle. Be honest and have the courage to say, that you don’t want to obey God, and that you find yourself; your own will, and your own ideas, and philosophies more important than God and His will.
The man of God was deceived by a lie from the prophet
But let’s go back to this man of God, who was tempted by a so-called prophet, who was in reality a liar. It all seems so good, and it really looked like the old prophet was sent by God, but he wasn’t. He was a liar and therefore spoke lies.
This old prophet had the same nature as the serpent in the Garden of Eve, who tempted Adam and Eve, and caused them to sin against God.
This man of God also sinned, because he disobeyed God’s commandments and listened to the lies of the prophet. As a result he died. That was his punishment for his disobedience to God.
Maybe you think, or say: “That’s really harsh of God!” But we can also turn the tables and say: “what stupid of that man, that he didn’t obey God and His words, and that he believed a man above God.”
Why do we always blame it on God, when something bad happens to a person, because a person doesn’t want to obey God’s commandments? Why do we always take man’s side, instead of God’s side?
When we take man’s side, maybe it says something about our carnal state. As long, as we do have our own opinion and say these things, we don’t live after the Spirit, but after the flesh (Read also: ‘Stop blaming God!‘).
Great and marvelous are Thou works
In Revelation 15 and 16 we read about the last seven plagues, in which the wrath of God is. Then those, who have gotten the victory over the beast didn’t say and sing “oh no God, this is so sad for those people, let’s not do it!”
No! They, and later on also the angel of the waters, say:
“Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”
God is not only a loving God, but He is also holy, righteous, and just. He can’t change and adjust His words to our flesh and our lusts and desires.
Don’t become devoured
Because of His disobedience to God, the man of God was devoured by the lion. Don’t take the same road as this man of God, but repent to Jesus Christ and stay obedient to Him. There are many false prophets in the church, that look pious and godly, but in reality, they are messengers of the devil. If you want to know how you can recognize them, you can read the following article: How to recognize false prophets in our time.
Let us keep God’s Word. Stay obedient to His commandments, without changing and adjusting His words. Do not change and adjust is words, not even a little.
Let the Word of God be the highest authority in your life.
Stay on the small road of God, which leads to eternal life. Even when people judge you for taking this small road and persecute you.
It’s better for you, that people will judge you than that eventually God will judge you
Make sure, that on the Day of Judgment, you shall not be sentenced to eternal death by the Lion of Judah, because of your disobedience to God.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
