Nougat 26

Wow

This has been one intriguing saga. And what discussions it has generated in me! I tell you! Thanks to my discussion partners for your candid feedback. Here’s today’s Holy Nougat

“Then the prophet said to his sons, “Saddle a donkey for me.” So they saddled a donkey, and he went out and found the body lying in the road. The donkey and lion were still standing there beside it, for the lion had not eaten the body nor attacked the donkey. So the prophet laid the body of the man of God on the donkey and took it back to the town to mourn over him and bury him. He laid the body in his own grave, crying out in grief, “Oh, my brother!”” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭13:27-30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

His family were left to mourn a memory. No body, no immediate knowledge of the facts, maybe a sense that he was due to return immediately. And, even had they discerned the truth; they were not likely to want to face Jeroboam’s ruthlessness! In dying as he did; his death could be seen as a foreshadowing of the season of exile for both kingdoms. For he was banished and buried away from his own. What a lesson for them then and us with 20/20 hindsight!

Despite this, we might wonder why the old prophet didn’t take the man of God’s body back home. A) I suspect it might be out of respect for God’s Word, which – despite his obvious disobedience – he valued as True. I also think that he had selfish motives. And most obviously, C) he didn’t know where the man was from. Let’s look at this some more.

A – Respect for God’s Word

When the young prophet went against his own conviction and ate with the old prophet, God responded, as promised, almost immediately. Although we don’t have direct proof; the presence of the quasi-altar at Bethel as well as extra biblical commentaries suggests that there was not a proliferation of godly prophecy in those days. It is fair to assume that speaking as God’s mouthpiece still carried weight with the old prophet. And, considering the implications of the Word – on his own life – the prophet may have sought to honor the prophecy.

B – Selfish Motives

Which leads us to the second possible reason: the old prophet might also have been safeguarding his personal interests. Despite (or perhaps, because of) his complicity in the prophet’s demise, the older man felt compelled to take care of the younger prophet’s body. Of course, in vilifying the older prophet, one might assume that he knew that ‘true’ men of God carried supernatural powers even after death. And if that was the case we know that that would facilitate his ongoing ‘prophetic works’.

C – Lack of Information

Of course, since we don’t know what they spoke of while the young prophet ate, drank and refreshed himself; and given that we have no background information about either man; we can agree that the older prophet also did not know where the man of God originated. With the state of affairs that led to the younger man’s death, the old prophet was perhaps right in burying him in Israel.

Ironically, the three possibilities resulted in the fulfillment of the prophecy. It was not necessarily as expected, but definitely as God stated. Which underscores that while we might not understand the Why behind God’s What, our goal remains obedience. Having all the facts before obeying God is overrated and detrimental to our health – spiritual and otherwise.

For when Adam was assured that failure to comply with God would lead to death; he didn’t have all the facts. He didn’t know what the fruit was like. And his relationship with God died a real painful death. Plus the other consequences were many. For him, Eve, their offspring and us.

But

In this season there is grace; the option to have the nakedness of our sins covered. Or, as with the younger prophet to benefit from a dignified burial; despite the ‘shame’ of exile. Lord, help us to obey Your Word to the exclusion of other voices. Forgive us when we stray please Jesus, by Your blood that cleanses from all unrighteous-ness, Amen

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May all we seek be found in Christ