In 1st Kings 13 we see a man of God sent across the border from Judah into the Beth-el in Israel who decries Jeroboam’s idolatry in verses 1-5. Jeroboam invites the prophet back to his palace to reward him but he refuses, saying in verse 9 that “it was charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water; nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.”
But sometimes Satan doesn’t take no for an answer. So when Jeroboam is rebuffed he sends yet another person to tempt the prophet to stray from his charge, this time an elderly prophet from Israel who sets out to find the man of God. He catches up to him in verse 14 sitting under a tree (this is important).
[15] Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. [16] And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: [17] For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread, nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest. [18] He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.
Beloveds, the spirit truly is willing but the flesh is weak. The false prophet in this story catches up to the man of God because he stopped to rest under a tree rather than hurry home where he could eat and drink as he pleased. Then the false prophet claims to bear a message from an angel of God that happens to contradict the explicit orders of the Lord himself, but it just so happens to be a message the prophet desires in his flesh.
[19] So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water: [20] And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: [21] And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, [22] But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come into the sepulchre of thy fathers.”
Why would God command the prophet not to eat or drink anything in Israel? Why is this a big deal? It may be for the same reason the apostle Paul admonishes us in 1st Corinthians 5:11-13 not to keep company with professing Christians who are living in gross sin – so that they will be ashamed of their conduct and repent of it. God compares idolatry to adultery and whoredom throughout scripture (Hosea 1:2, Ezekiel 23:37, Leviticus 20:5). It is a sin that provokes Him to jealousy (1st Corinthians 10:20-22).
Surely God was not punishing the man of Judah in forbidding things that are necessary to his survival. “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.” (Ps 34:10) John tells us that God’s commandments are not grievous (1st John 5:3). The prophet's issue stemmed from his lack of faith in God to provide for his needs. By placing his carnal desires ahead of the commandment of the Lord he was falling into the same idolatry that was ravaging Israel.
In addition to refusing to eat or drink with the apostate Israelites, the prophet of Judah is commanded not to return to Judah using the same route in which he came. When we are converted our entire life orientation must change. We cannot be dogs returning to our vomit. Christianity is a forward-oriented faith. God’s anger was kindled against the ancient Israelites because they looked back to Egypt with its luxurious food and longed to return to their bondage. Once you follow the Lord you must continue. “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62.
Therefore, we must continue to watch and be sober. The marks of a false prophet are these: they deny the deity of Christ (1st John 4:2), they teach things that are contrary to scripture (1st John 4:6), and they bring messages that appeal to our flesh and enable our sin (2nd Peter 2:10).
"Little children, keep yourselves from idols." - 1st John 5:21
Selah.
