June 4, 2022

“For so it was commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘You shall not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way you came.’” 1 Kings 13:9

A fundamental lesson taught repeatedly in God’s word is that we are to follow His instructions. Satan is consistently at work to propagate various commands that differ from the Word. Whom we obey determines where our loyalty lies, and ultimately whether or not we will live eternally. A microcosm of this principle is illustrated for us in 1 Kings 13. A young prophet from Judah was sent to warn the erring King Jeroboam of Israel. The northern kingdom of Israel was so engulfed in apostasy that Yahweh had instructed the young prophet to deliver the message and return by a different route without consuming bread nor water.

This clear instruction was challenged by an old prophet, who invited the young prophet: “Come home with me and eat bread.” But the young prophet explained: “I cannot return with you nor go in with you; neither can I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place. For I have been told by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall not eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by going the way you came.’” (vv.15-17)

Here is where the story takes a dramatic turn. The outcome of this story may seem very harsh, but the simple lesson here applies to each of us. In every case of instructions given by man that conflict with the word of the LORD, we ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).

The old prophet replied: “I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’” (He was lying to him.) So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water.

Without any checking whatsoever, the young prophet was persuaded to do the very opposite of what he had been directly told by God. Satan delights in seeing people follow his ideas; his deceptions are religious-sounding ideas that conflict with the Word of God.

A lion met [the young prophet] on the road and killed him. (v.24)

Satan, characterized as a lion (see 1 Peter 5:8), is only too happy to work through people to serve “bread and water” that conflicts with the Word of the LORD. The location of their eating, in his house, symbolizes a church where false doctrines are taught. Jesus withstood Satan’s temptations in the desert by responding, “It is written…” (see Matthew 4:4,7,10). We must follow His example. Otherwise, we will “swallow” whatever we are told instead of relying on the Word.

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life…” John 6:35

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” Jeremiah 2:13

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14