“…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 you came.” 1 Kings 13:9
Dear Ones,
When the Lord through Moses brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, He did so in such a way that they could not return to Egypt. However, after traversing the Red Sea, while in the wilderness, there were those who proclaimed loudly to the people, that they were better off in Egypt, and that they should return. These were met with judgment from God, as a return to Egypt was NOT God’s purpose for Israel. His objective was to bring them into the land of promise, where the covenant promises of God would be realized in answer to faith and obedience..
In the first book of Kings, chapter 13, there is a story of “a man of God,” who, in a time of great confusion in Israel, spiritual disarray, and deception in the land, came and cried against an altar that king Jeroboam had built. This deceptive act by Jeroboam was blatant idolatry, as two gold calves were made for the people to worship as their gods. We do not know the name of the man of God who came to that altar to confront Jeroboam. We do not even know if he was “a prophet,” as we see throughout the entirety of the narrative, that he is called “a man of God.” However, it is true that he prophesied concerning the altar, that it would be destroyed, and this occurred. When this “man of God” was called of God to come from Judah, confront Jeroboam, and declare the Lord’s word to him, the Lord gave him specific instructions concerning what was to occur AFTER he had completed his mission. “Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that you came.” Several times the man of God declared this. It was very clear in his mind and heart. He obeyed this word of the Lord…for a while, until an “old prophet” lied to him, deceived him, and persuaded him to return with him to his house to eat and drink. He said that “an angel spoke unto him,” to tell the man of God to return with him. The “man of God” returned with the old prophet, and after leaving him, was subsequently killed by a lion. It is interesting to note that though the lion killed the man of God, he did not maul or maim him. He would simply stand by his body, with the donkey doing the same. It is very unusual that a lion and donkey would stand and remain thus. It is almost as if the Lord stationed His honor guards beside the fallen man of God, as a testament to his devotion, though not perfect. Why then was this man of God killed by the Lion? The man of God had been specifically instructed NOT to return by the way he came. God in His wisdom, had instructed him thus. The man of God was faithful to God with regard to his mission, but he erroneously deferred to the wisdom of men, even an old, lying prophet, instead of deferring to the wisdom of the God who had called him. The man of God may have put himself in a position of temptation, or perhaps defamation, concerning the work and word of the Lord. Certainly, his disobedience did not honor the God who had revealed Himself to him, and to whom, He had entrusted a most remarkable mission. The purpose of God in sending the man of God was to meet the need of a wicked king, and restore a nation. This He would do through Josiah, the king to come, of whom the man of God spoke.
When Lot was instructed by the Lord to leave Sodom, before it was destroyed, He specifically said to him: “…look not behind thee.” (Gen. 19:17) His wife did not obey, and was consequently turned into a pillar of salt. The purpose of God was not for him to look back, but to trust Him, to lead forward, onward, and upward.
Dear Father, give us grace to see that the past is NOT to be our reference for the present, but only the Lord Jesus. Strengthen our hands upon the plow, enabling us to run well this race set BEFORE us, looking unto Jesus. We thank and praise You in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad