October 25 & 26, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 1 Kings and Acts? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Kings 13 (NIV)
The Man of God From Judah
1 By the word of the Lord a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering. 2 By the word of the Lord he cried out against the altar: “Altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David.……Continue Reading
Sometimes it is hard to hear the truth and Jeroboam did not like hearing this man of God’s prophecy of coming judgement so he had him arrested. Jeroboam tried a shoot the messenger approach rather than getting on his knees and repenting to God for the mess he had created. He thought he could just make it go away. The old prophet surprised me in that after seeing all these signs he was still willing to lie in the name of God to this man of God and ultimately cause his death through that lie. More OT examples of misdirection, false teachings, and idolatry that only lead to death and destruction. When I read this I think they should learn from their mistakes and yet we still make these mistakes today that lead to all the same places!
God knew the destructive path that Jeroboam was on and what it would mean for the Northern Kingdom that God had put in place with Jeroboam as the leader, and so He sends a prophet from Judah to speak to him. It is a safe assumption there was no prophet in Israel that God could trust (as is clear from our story) to give Jeroboam this message. But rather than raising conviction, confession and repentance in Jeroboam’s heart, the message riled up his pride and anger. That dynamic is a sure sign we are on the wrong path too! God even supplies 2 other miracle with what happens to the altar and Jeroboam’s hand, but Jeroboam is unmoved. And it is sad that this ungodly prophet even gets involved and even sadder that he says the Lord had spoke to him when He hadn’t. It just goes to show how important it is for us to stick to the marching orders that God gives us and not let anyone distract us or lead us from it. Clearly God holds us accountable to it. And He holds this prophet accountable too. But it is just amazing to me that the deceiving prophet is not confessional in his role with the man of God and no one is moved by yet the other miracle that a lion is not eating the man or the donkey and the donkey is not running away. The right thing to do is for all those in Israel to say, God is saying something, let us bow our knee and listen to what He says. But Jeroboam doesn’t listen, and he and Israel continue down this wrong path of defying the system for sacrifices God that God called His people to, as well as rules that would define the priesthood.
Psalms 13; Isaiah 63; Acts 16-17; 1 Kings 11-13
When we are following a calling by God in our lives, let us not be so easily swayed by others to think that God’s calling has changed for us like the prophet did in this chapter.
1 Kings 13
1 Kings 13
1 kings 13
1 Kings 13
not letting me make comments
Take heed of the message of the Lord when he is disciplining us for destructive behavior. When we suffer from the consequences of our actions, turn to Him with a contrite heart and he will restore us. He will extend his hand of grace and mercy for us to hold on to. And if we choose not to turn to him, we can expect a multitude of troubles and difficulties before us. It will not turn out well for us.
1 Kings 13
Neither Jeroboam nor the prophet take heed to this clearly verified prophecy!
Dennis, it is not letting me comment either, keeps saying there is a Captcha error. I have to copy my comment (press and select all and copy) and then log back in, go to the entry again, paste it, and then it will post the comment.
1 Kings 13