Doubting God's instruction :

1 Kings 13:6-25

In 1 Kings 13, we read about a man of God who received God's instruction on his path ahead.  God told him to go a certain road, and not to eat bread or water.  He was first tested by the king, who asked the man of God to come to his palace to eat bread and he will give him a gift. The man of God refused and went on the road which was instructed by God.

As he was on the road, an old prophet met him and asked him to come back to his house for bread and water.  The man of God refused once more declining the offer, stating that God told him he had to go on a particular path, and was not to eat bread or water.  The old prophet lied to him and said "God told me through an angel that you are to come back to my house, and eat bread and drink water."  The man of God turned around and obeyed the old prophet and went to his house and ate bread and water... he was taken in by deception, lies and feelings.  Whilst in his house eating the meal, the old prophet said to the man of God "You have disobeyed the Lord and His word and you will die."  The man of God departed from his house, and was devoured by a lion on his path.  Puzzling?

The moral of this story in the Bible is that the man of God doubted what God told him and was led down a wrong path by other people.  In our situation, God always speaks the truth to us from His word.   The Bible says that God's word is a light unto our path.  God will always offer His promises to us through His word, we may have to wait for them as God orchestrates His plan, but He will never change His mind or lie to us.  This is why we are instructed to wait upon God.  When God tells us of His direction and what He wants from us, from His word, He may test us like the man of God was, to see if we will listen to others, or listen to Him.  Others may say to you "God told me this and you should do this" or "I believe God wants you to do this, and you should follow this path."  If God never told you directly from His word, and you are following on a path which others have directed you onto, chances are, just like the man of God, you have been deceived and lied to by another spirit.  God may tell you directly from His word, or grab your attention somehow to speak to you concerning a promise made to you, or direction given to you, and then test you to see if you were willing to obey Him or obey a friend who has directed you onto another path, contrary to the path God wants from you.

Has God directed your path by His word? Or are we like the man of God in 1 Kings 13, who doubted what God told him, listened to another person, took their advice and followed their direction instead.  God may put people in your way like He did in this chapter, to give you direction contrary to the direction God has already given you, to test your faith and obedience.  Other people can deceive you by giving you false direction.  Other people may pray alongside you and say "They feel this is what God wants."  Again...did it come from God's word?  Remember, satan can deceive you by feelings to try and take you away from the path God wants from you, so that God's promises to you are hindered. Satan can make you feel this is what God wants, this is why we are to consult God and His word.

Disobedience to God can be a costly thing.  That's why we are commanded to OBEY His voice and His word and to stop doubting what God has told us, and to stop listening to other peoples direction.

Obedience results in blessings, disobedience results in chastisement.  It is better to put your trust in God's word, rather than listening to others who will direct you away from God's path.

Thanks,

JWA.