1 Kings 13

The Christian faith is a walk of obedience and not works or sacrifice. God gives every believer specific instruction about their calling, ministry, and life but some of us ignore this and look for validation from men, thereby disobeying the Lord’s instructions. we look for directions and methods from others who we think are more spiritually mature, positionally higher than us and probably a man of God.
The prophet, by God’s instructions in vs 8-10, was not to hold any friendly contact with the offending nation or receive hospitality within its borders and the king. Yet through 11-19 on the way, he was intercepted by an old prophet from Bethel who convinced him to do contrary to what the Lord had told him.
The old prophet said an angel had told him to entertain the man of God, and this lie succeeded in persuading the latter to accept the proffered hospitality. The old prophet who from his actions, couldn’t have been a faithful servant of God.
It is obvious that the man of God was being deceived by the old prophet when he said to the man of God, “I am a prophet also as thou art.” Angel’s instructions over God’s! You’d expect a man of God who just delivered God’s message and performed a miracle would know better. Proverbs 23:12 implies that there is no easy way to gain instruction. It requires discipline and application. How many of us do that in some areas of our lives? We take man’s word over the God- word given regarding certain things, why? Validation and disobedience.
There are many dangers in following true prophets and many more in following false prophets: the Lord alone is to be followed, never the arm of flesh, Jeremiah 17:5. It is a possibility to be misled by a prophet to test you. such tests continue today.
Those who follow the prophet will not understand the actions of those who follow the Lord. It will seem foreign to them. They may mock, ridicule and even scorn those who choose to follow the Lord all the while thinking they are superior because they follow a prophet. This is as it should be. It’s all part of the test. Remember, The Man of God failed his test by following a true prophet. Learn to follow the Lord Jesus Christ instead of men.
A good servant never disputes, speaks little, and always follows his work. Every Christian is a faithful minister, working on their salvation, or that of a neighbour, speaking more to God than to men. Following John 10:5, no matter what the instruction is and who is speaking, if the Lord has spoken, we must obey.
There are consequences to every action, good or bad and the word of God is final there be no room for manoeuvre or compromise according to Revelation 3:16, we must follow the Lord’s instruction completely, no matter what it is and how hard it gets.
God does not give two directives for the same assignment to two people. When God sends you, allow Him to guide you. Don’t look for approval from people who will never know or understand the weight of your assignment. Don’t be a disobedient believer.
Shalom