King & KingdomsUzorak

Are you lost at this point? First, the old prophet lies to the man of God. Then he tells him there are consequences coming. Now, after those consequences happen, he cries for him and wants to be buried with him. This story can give you whiplash.

Here's what seems to be happening. Prophets at this point didn't always choose that career. Sometimes God made a man a prophet who had no interest in it. But when God would put a message in their hearts, they couldn't help but say it. It was a unique way that God worked at this time, and it seems to be the case for the old prophet.

When he cries out that the man of God had disobeyed God's instructions, it seems to have poured involuntarily out of his mouth. He couldn't help but say the words. And in that moment, the old prophet appears to have realized how badly he had wronged this man of God by lying to him. He realizes that if God was speaking consequences through him because the man had turned off the road, then his predictions about Jeroboam must also be true.

So he grieves the consequences of his deception. As we read about the old prophet, we're getting a picture of how far God's people were from him. But what turns them back is seeing the consequences of their choices come to pass--consequences God had told them would happen.

Think it Over: Have you ever thought that the consequences of sin and disobedience might be a way God convinces us of the truth? How have you seen this in your life?