December 29, 2024 1 Kings 13:26-34

December 29, 2024 1 Kings 13:26-34

²⁶ And when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the word of the Lord; therefore the Lord has given him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word that the Lord spoke to him.” ²⁷ And he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” And they saddled it. ²⁸ And he went and found his body thrown in the road, and the donkey and the lion standing beside the body. The lion had not eaten the body or torn the donkey. ²⁹ And the prophet took up the body of the man of God and laid it on the donkey and brought it back to the city to mourn and to bury him. ³⁰ And he laid the body in his own grave. And they mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!” ³¹ And after he had buried him, he said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in the grave in which the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones. ³² For the saying that he called out by the word of the Lord against the altar in Bethel and against all the houses of the high places that are in the cities of Samaria shall surely come to pass.”

³³ After this thing Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but made priests for the high places again from among all the people. Any who would, he ordained to be priests of the high places. ³⁴ And this thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, so as to cut it off and to destroy it from the face of the earth.

I can’t imagine being that prophet and knowing I had a hand in swaying the man of God to be disobedient to God.  He obviously was remorseful when we see he went and got the body and put it in his own grave.  I’m sure he wishes he could take it back, but one thing we learn in life is when we sin, we can’t undo it just because it didn’t turn out like we thought it would.  Our salvation isn’t at risk, but we do have to live with the consequences of our actions. 

Sometimes I wish there was a “back” button on life, but since there isn’t, I’ll do my best to seek God BEFORE I make decisions and realize God will never bless me when I lie to get what I want, like this prophet did.