A Tale of Two Prophets
Devotions for Growing Christians
A Tale of Two Prophets
There are some pretty strange and confusing stories in the Old Testament, and the tale of two prophets from 1 Kings 13 probably ranks near the top of that list. The account tells us how a courageous young prophet was tricked by an older prophet, and then killed by a lion as a result. The worshipful feelings that naturally flow from reading other chapters in the Bible are replaced by confusion and questions when we read this unusual narrative. Read 1 Kings 13, and then we’ll look at the setting of this event.
A True Tale
In about 931 BC, the nation of Israel split into two separate kingdoms. Rehoboam became the king of Judah, the southern kingdom, where Jerusalem and God's Temple were located.
Jeroboam I became the king of the northern kingdom, that retained the name Israel. King Jeroboam instituted his own system of worship by making two golden calves and setting them up in idolatrous shrines (1 Kings 12). One shrine was established at Dan, in the far north of the kingdom. The other was strategically located at Bethel, on the border with the southern kingdom of Judah. People traveling south to worship at the true Temple in Jerusalem would be tempted to stop off at Bethel and try out the new form of "worship."
God's true priests served at the Temple in Jerusalem and lived in Judah. Meanwhile, Jeroboam created his own illegitimate priesthood from among his own people, and also declared his own religious feast days. Not surprisingly, Jeroboam I is known as "the king who caused Israel to sin"(1 Kings 14:16 and 15:30,34).
Soon after King Jeroboam established his sinful religious system, God sent a young prophet from Judah to Bethel to pronounce judgment on the idolatrous form of worship. (We’ll refer to the young prophet here as “YP.”) YP arrived at the precise moment that the king was offering incense on the false altar of the shrine! With amazing accuracy, YP predicted that a future king, Josiah, would burn the bones of Jeroboam's false priests upon this altar. Sure enough, about 300 years later, when the revival instituted by King Josiah of Judah swept north, the shrine at Bethel was torn down (2 Kings 23:15-16).
To back up the words of YP, God gave an immediate sign to King Jeroboam. The altar split apart, and its ashes and incense were strewn about. When Jeroboam tried to have the prophet arrested, his outstretched hand and arm were stiffened and paralyzed.
God mercifully restored the king's hand, and Jeroboam offered YP some food and gifts before returning home to Judah. God had specifically directed YP not to delay, so he refused the offer. However, an older prophet (“OP”) who lived in the Bethel area, chased after YP and invited him to come home with him for some food and fellowship.
Initially YP refused the invitation since he was following God’s strict orders. However, OP lied and said that the Lord Himself had directed him to bring YP to his home. YP was finally persuaded to turn back with him.
Now comes an unexpected twist. During dinner, the word of the Lord came to OP, denouncing the disobedience of YP. As a result of his disobedience, YP was killed by a lion on the road home to Judah! The lion did not devour the man or kill his donkey, but rather stood guard over his body, which was a sign to everyone that this was not an accident. It certainly was not the normal activity of a hungry predator.
When OP heard of YP’s fate, he retrieved the body, mourned, and gave him an honorable burial in his own grave. He also confirmed that the prediction of YP would take place, and he asked his sons to bury his own body next to YP upon his own death.
Romans 15:4 teaches that the tale of two prophets was "written for our instruction." What possible application can we draw from this unusual story? Let's look at three unmistakable lessons.
Lesson for Unbelievers
The lesson for unbelievers is quite obvious and straightforward: When the Lord gives you a chance to change your ways, don't miss the opportunity to get into a proper relationship with Him. 1 Kings 11:38 says that before King Jeroboam came to power, God gave him a golden opportunity: "If you will walk in My ways and do what is right in My eyes by keeping My statutes and commands, I will be with you." But Jeroboam ignored the Lord’s message, and actually defied God by inventing his own false system of worship!
In His grace, the Lord gave Jeroboam another opportunity to repent and turn from his evil ways. The Lord sent the young prophet from Judah to confront Jeroboam. The mission was timed precisely so that King Jeroboam would hear the word of the Lord directly.
After his hand and arm were suddenly paralyzed in the presence of his own powerless "god," Jeroboam couldn't deny that this prophet represented the true and all-powerful God. And when his withered hand and arm were perfectly restored, Jeroboam knew that God had shown mercy to him.
What a golden opportunity for Jeroboam to admit his guilt, renounce the false system of worship, give his heart to the Lord and turn the northern kingdom of Israel back to God! But he missed his opportunity.
In the same way, if you’re an unbeliever, don’t miss your chance to repent right now. Turn to Him while you have the opportunity!
Lesson for Older Christians
The older prophet in this story was most likely a believer in the true God, and not directly involved in Jeroboam's false system of worship. However, rather than moving south to Judah, as many godly Jews had done, he remained in Bethel, retaining his local prestige as a retired prophet. He probably went along with the system for his own selfish purposes. When the younger prophet from Judah boldly denounced the king and his false system of worship, the older prophet was stirred into action.
Unfortunately, his actions were not channeled in the right direction. We don’t know why, but the older prophet ended up lying to the younger prophet. He misdirected him, and persuaded him to disobey the Lord’s will. As a result, the young prophet’s life of service for the Lord was ended.
What a lesson for older Christians today! Older, more mature believers have a responsibility to encourage younger believers to follow the will of the Lord for their lives. But improper words of guidance from older Christians can mislead, and even manipulate, younger believers. This is very serious, because bad advice may cause younger believers to miss the Lord's calling for their lives. Sometimes the improper direction is rooted in jealousy. Sometimes older Christians hinder the leading of the Lord and discourage the younger generation because they fear a loss of their own prestige or power in the local church.
Are you an older, more mature Christian? God has called you to guard and lead younger believers. Examine the honesty of your motives, and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When a younger Christian asks you for advice, be careful not to hinder or interfere with the Lord's direction, or thwart a young believer with misguided counsel.
Lesson for Younger Christians
Younger Christians must learn, first and foremost, to follow the will of the Lord for their lives--not the will of others--for their lives. Guidance from the Lord comes in a number of ways, including the counsel of older Christians. But as this story shows, it’s possible for older believers to give guidance that looks like it might be from the Lord, but is not from the Lord! If you’re a younger Christian, be wary of counsel from an older Christian who says “the Lord told me” what you should do.
The best advice for all believers is to evaluate what you believe the Lord is directing you to do, and then let the Lord confirm His will in a number of different ways -- including the counsel of many believers. Carefully select the older believers (plural) you consult. Make sure they are living Christ-honoring lifestyles, and have a good knowledge of the Word of God.
It’s not easy to understand the tale of two prophets. However, with meditation and reflection, we can appreciate the valuable lessons it contains for us today.
- Dave Reid
(Updated 2021, Ron Reid)