The Man of God
(1Kgs 13: 1ampsim34)
This passage depicts the man of God, contrasted with Jeroboam who did things on his own. Through the man of God, the Lord shows his sign against Jeroboam. Thus God shows his desperate love for him. Lets see who the man of God is.
1. He lives on the Word. A nameless man of God from Judah went to Bethel in Israel to warn that the sacrifice of Bethel was wrong. Following the Word, he went there, shouted Gods message, and let Gods sign appear. When we follow the Word, we are guided by it. The man of God is the one who reveals Gods will to the world through the fullness of the Word, being accompanied by God. His way is life risking. The early Western missionaries who visited Korea risked their lives for the Korean people who worshipped their idols. The gospel we hear today is Gods voice urging us to complete Christs afflictions with our bodies. When the man of God arrived at Bethel, Jeroboam was making an offering.
2. He proclaims Gods justice. The man of God gave Gods message that a son named Josiah would sacrifice the priests of the high places, which was fulfilled by king Josiah of Judah 300 years later. This implied that he would be under the affliction caused by Solomons sins for 300 years. Gods people need to wait. The best way is to endure the present trial for 300 years.
3. He overcomes even a kings temptation. After hearing the man of Gods warning, Jeroboam stretched out his hand in anger, saying 'Seize him!' Yet before pulling back his hand, he saw the altar split apart and its ashes poured out. This was Gods sign that his prediction would be fulfilled without fail, reflecting his will to protect the man of God and to urge Jeroboam to repent. It also reflects that God would not accept the sacrifice offered on the altar. Being at a loss with his shriveled hand, Jeroboam finally bowed himself to God. However, he asked God not for his forgiveness but for the healing of his hand. Thus he focused only on his suffering instead of spiritual recovery. When his hand was healed, Jeroboam tried to bribe the man instead of repenting. The man of God repeatedly said that he must not eat bread or drink water. This implies that he wouldnt associate with idol worshippers because God hates idolatry. Resisting having meals with someone means a perfect rejection. God commanded the man of God not to return by the way he came but to take a new way even though the same old way would be easy.
4. He is tempted by a prophet. The man of God sat under an oak tree after leaving Bethel. He might have secretly wanted to be recognized by the people of the same field at the famous resting place. Meanwhile an old prophet who lived in Bethel and probably supported Jeroboam, didnt give any warning to Jeroboam even though he knew that the king worshiped idols. Depraved people tend to reduce others to their level by inciting them to commit the same sin as theirs. The old prophet tempted the man of God to stay at Bethel, saying that he himself was also a prophet and that an angel said to him by the word of the LORD. We need to inquire of God in prayer when we cant discern. However, spiritually unguarded, the man of God inadvertently committed a sin, deceived by the old prophet.
.
5. Being tempted, he disobeyed the law of the Lord. The word of the LORD came to the old prophet who had tempted the man of God, inspiring him to give a warning to the man of God. Just as he warned, a lion killed the man of God on the road, yet didnt tear or eat the body, which proved that it was done by the Lord. This may look cruel, but God let he man of God leave a message to the Israelites through his death. Death in faith is not an eternal punishment. As for the old prophet, he survived, yet had to mourn before the Lord the rest of his life. However, God took away the man of God due to just one mistake because the man was his beloved child. Thus God wanted to be responsible for his man.
6. Yet he was restored by God. Nevertheless, Jeroboam continued on his own way. Even after seeing a miracle, he didnt repent. He was like the Israelites who grumbled after crossing the Red Sea and died in the desert. Thus obedience is more important than experiencing miracles. The man of God was restored by the Lord after 300 years. However, the household of Jeroboam who used holy rites for his interest, perished eternally. Lincoln used to be an icon of failure even though he is one of the greatest American presidents. He confessed that he often slipped in his life. He must have strongly felt the uncontrollable situation of slavery. Even though he finally won in the American Civil War, he was assassinated in less than ten days after the end of the war. Yet his sudden death ended regionalism. Thus he exemplified the verse 'our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.' The man of God is the one that God feeds, protect, and takes away in his time. May God bless us to be restored as His man, who fulfills his salvation project with patience, ready to wait for 300 years!
That same day the man of God gave a sign: 'This is the sign the LORD has declared: The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out.' (1Kgs 13:3)
