“When King Jeroboam, who was at the altar in Bethel, heard the word that the man of God had cried out against it, he stretched out his hand and said, ‘Seize him!’ But the hand he stretched out toward him withered, so that he could not pull it back. The altar also was split apart and the ashes poured out, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.”
— 1 Kings 13:4-5
The Pattern of Rebellion
Throughout Kings and Chronicles, the divine summary of Israel’s rulers repeats like a funeral toll:
“ … and he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.”
God had decreed that the Messiah—Shiloh—would come through Judah (Genesis 49:10) and that one of David’s descendants would possess an eternal throne (2 Samuel 7:12-13).
David, though far from flawless, was “a man after God’s own heart.” His repentance modeled the very response God desires.
His son Solomon, however, began with unmatched wisdom and ended in ruinous compromise.
The Wisest Fool Who Ever Lived
Scripture records,
“God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight… Solomon’s wisdom surpassed all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.” — 1 Kings 4:29-30
Yet we also read:
“Solomon loved many foreign women… and his wives turned his heart after other gods.” — 1 Kings 11:1-4
How could the wisest man become such a fool?
Because wisdom unapplied is worse than ignorance; it becomes arrogance.
Division and Idolatry
After Solomon’s death, the kingdom split:
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Rehoboam ruled Judah in the south.
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Jeroboam ruled Israel in the north.
Rehoboam was harsh and proud; Jeroboam was blasphemous. To consolidate power, Jeroboam erected two golden calves and told Israel,
“Here are your gods who brought you up from Egypt.”
Thus began a national apostasy that mirrored Aaron’s sin at Sinai.
The Man of God and the Old Prophet
In 1 Kings 13, God sent an unnamed prophet from Judah to confront Jeroboam at Bethel.
When the king commanded, “Seize him!” his hand instantly withered, and the altar split—fulfilling the prophet’s word.
Jeroboam begged for healing; the man of God prayed, and God mercifully restored the king’s hand.
The king then invited him home for refreshment and reward, but the man of God refused:
“Even if you gave me half your house, I would not go with you, for I was commanded by the word of the LORD: ‘You shall eat no bread nor drink water nor return by the way you came.’ ”
So far, obedience held. Then temptation came from a subtler source.
An old prophet from Bethel heard the story, sought the man of God, and lied:
“I also am a prophet, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you.’ ”
The younger prophet yielded. He returned, ate, and drank.
Then the true word of the LORD came through the deceiver’s mouth: judgment.
A lion met the man of God on the road and killed him; his corpse lay beside the lion as a public warning.
The old prophet buried him, saying, “When I die, lay my bones beside his.”
And the story ends—one deceiver spared, one obedient messenger dead.
Eden Replayed
The parallels are unmistakable.
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A divine command.
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A deceiver’s contradiction.
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Disobedience leading to death.
Just as in Eden, the serpent’s lie began with “Has God really said?”
And just as Adam and Eve learned, rebellion against explicit revelation always ends in judgment.
Jeroboam’s Hardened Heart
Even witnessing this miracle and tragedy, Jeroboam did not repent:
“He again made priests of the high places from among all the people… This was the sin that caused the house of Jeroboam to be cut off.” — 1 Kings 13:33-34
Earlier, God had offered Jeroboam a covenant identical to David’s:
“If you walk in My ways and do what is right, I will be with you and build you a lasting dynasty.” — 1 Kings 11:38
Yet Jeroboam chose idols, invented feast days, and manufactured priesthoods.
He sought God’s relief but never His repentance.
The Deceit of “God Told Me”
The tragedy deepens when we recognize the “old prophet” still speaks today.
Countless preachers, friends, and influencers confidently announce, “God told me…” while contradicting Scripture.
But God’s Word declares:
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.” — Exodus 20:7
To invoke God’s authority for our opinions is to bear His Name in emptiness. It’s blasphemy masquerading as spirituality.
We have one Mediator—Christ Jesus (Hebrews 5–10).
The Holy Spirit speaks through Scripture, not around it.
Any “new revelation” that undermines the written Word exposes itself as deception.
Losing Saltiness
The man of God’s death reminds us that disobedience—however small—can end a ministry in a moment.
Jesus warned,
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor… it is no longer good for anything.” — Matthew 5:13
Delayed judgment does not mean divine indifference.
“Because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for the day of wrath.” — Romans 2:5
Many today pursue the benefits of Jesus rather than Jesus Himself—wanting the treasures of heaven and earth simultaneously. But Christ said,
“No one can serve two masters.” — Matthew 6:24
David or Jeroboam?
Both kings sinned grievously.
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David was broken, repentant, and restored.
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Jeroboam was proud, unrepentant, and destroyed.
The difference was not in the sin but in the response.
One clung to grace; the other clung to guilt-free religion.
Grace is abundant for repentance—but never for rebellion.
The Voice of the Shepherd or the Old Prophet?
Christ warns,
“My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me.” — John 10:27
Do you listen to His voice through Scripture—or to flattering voices that say what you want to hear?
Jeroboam cried only for relief; David cried for forgiveness.
Right now, you can do the same: plead with King Jesus to forgive, redeem, and restore.
He delights to show mercy.
The cross proves it.
“As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. Be zealous therefore and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” — Revelation 3:19-20
Reject the counterfeit prophets. Return to the Shepherd.
Better to be slain by conviction now than by the Lion of Judah later.
Blessings and love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
BigIslandChristianChurch.com
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