3. Why Would God Allow Dedicated Christians To . . .

. . . Continue in Error and Deception to Their Hurt or Spiritual Detriment?

1 Kings 13 reveals that even a dedicated and fearless prophet of God must suffer the consequences when he chooses deception over the clear revelation of God.

An unnamed man of God (v.1) was sent to Bethel "by the Word of the Lord" to prophesy against King Jeroboam and his idolatry (v.1-3).  When the King tried to arrest the prophet, the King's hand withered (v.4, 5).  He begged the man of God to intercede to God to restore his hand (v.6).  The man of God showed mercy, prayed to God and Jeroboam's hand was restored.  Then King Jeroboam offered him a reward (v.7) but the man of God refused (v.3-10).

Why?  He refused to stop for food because the clear revelation of God forbade him from receiving food or drink or retracing his steps (v.9).  So far he had walked in complete obedience to the Word of God.  He had passed the tests of:

1. Fear because he had boldly carried out his job of proclaiming God's Word to the King.
2. Compassion/Mercy.  He had not allowed the king's threats to dry up his mercy.  He willingly, lovingly prayed for Jeroboam's hand to be restored without revenge.
3. The test of faithfulness to God over human favour had been overcome, because he turned down the King's offer of hospitality and reward.
4. The test of deception, was the final test which he sadly failed.

Why?  God had clearly told him not to receive hospitality, but he rejected the clear revelation of the Word of God for a new revelation, and it cost him his life.

There was an old prophet living nearby who heard about his faithful stand.  The old prophet had lived in compromise at Bethel and invited the man of God home to dine with him (v.11-15). 

The man of God refused saying that he was under strict orders from God not to eat, drink or retrace his steps (v.16, 17).  The old prophet replied in v.18 "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."

Why did he lie?  We are not told:

1. Maybe he was envious at seeing a true prophet faithfully discharge his duties, when he had lived in compromise.
2. Maybe he resented the man of God and had a convicted conscience.  

 The old prophet claimed a new revelation from God.  The man of God had to decide:

1. Would he accept at face value the new revelation, or 
2. Would he continue to cling to God's previous revelation?

Sadly, the once fearless and faithful prophet succumbed to deception.  And God allowed this to happen to a dedicated man of God.  Why?  Because in our pilgrimage on earth, there will always be the choice to follow the clear teaching of God's Word, or to replace it with the shallow promises, prophecies and deceptions of man.

The man of God retraced his steps back to the home of the old prophet and ate with him (v.19).  Over the meal, the old prophet revealed that because the man of God had disobeyed the Word of God, he would die (v.20-21).  And this is exactly what happened (v.23-26) because a lion slew him in the way.

From this we see that if God allowed a dedicated prophet of God to choose between the clear teaching of the Lord and deception, surely the Lord will let us have this choice today.  Many Christians suffer poor spiritual lives because they give up the Word of God, and embrace teachers who prophesy or give new revelations of their own spirit.