The LORD has given him over to the lion, which has mauled him and killed him, as the word of the LORD had warned him. — 1 Kings 13:26
1 Kings 13 is one of the strangest chapters in the whole Bible. I’ve puzzled over it for years, and only recently is it starting to make sense to me.
Here’s the story. A man of God confronts a wicked king, delivering his message with a powerful miracle. Under explicit instructions not to eat or drink, the man of God begins his trip home. But an old prophet, apparently jealous for a piece of the action, intercepts him and lies to him, claiming to have a message from God. The old prophet talks the man of God into disobeying God’s instructions and dining with him. In the middle of the meal, the old prophet confronts the man of God about his disobedience. The man of God again starts for home, only to be killed by a lion.
Just to make sure there was no mistake about this being the judgment of God, the lion and the donkey stand there together looking at the dead body.
The chapter certainly proves that I can’t second guess God. I would have sent the lion after the lying old prophet, not the mistaken man of God. But God’s ways are not my ways.
What’s going on here? How do you explain God’s actions?
(More tomorrow.)
Be encouraged!
Dwight
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Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.