The Choice to Obey
There are thousands upon thousands of names in the Bible. Each person named in the Bible has a story. Sometimes we are able to read their story. Other times we know very little about them, or nothing at all. Sometimes we tell big stories with relatively small amounts of information (Jabez, Jonah). Other times we have so much information, it is impossible to make a singular story (Moses, David). But every now and then we come across someone whose story is more important than even knowing their name. One such person is simply defined as “a man of God†from Judah. I will call him moG.
We read about moG in 1 Kings 13. Jeroboam was the king of Israel at the time and he was a wicked man. He disobeyed God by selecting priests from outside the tribe of Levi and worshipping false gods. moG shows up in Bethel, where Jeroboam and his altar were, and speaks against Jeroboam’s altar. He stated that a king would come along named Josiah and that this king would burn the bones of the priests on that altar. It is interesting to note that Josiah would not be king for nearly 300 years (to see this prophecy fulfilled, read 2 Kings 23:15-20). Such long-term prophecies were often sealed with a present sign to validate their authenticity. This nameless moG presents the sign that the altar would be torn down and the ashes of the altar will be poured out (the sacrificial ashes traditionally had to be disposed of properly – if they were not, the sacrifice was considered null and void – Leviticus 4:12).
After saying these things, king Jeroboam calls for moG’s arrest by holding out his hand. When Jeroboam holds out his hand, it withers. He then watches as the altar is torn down and the ashes are poured out. Jeroboam turns to moG and says in verse 6, “Entreat now the favor of the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.†Notice he asks for help not from my God, but from your God. moG prays and the king’s hand is restored. The king is happy to invite moG over for dinner and a reward. moG received clear instructions from God, though. He replies in verses 8-9: “If you give me half your house, I will not go in with you. And I will not eat bread or drink water in this place, for so was it commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came.’†moG then goes home via a different route.
Everything sounds good so far – we learn that this nameless moG obeyed God and apparently fulfilled his mission. When looked at in the grand scope of things, we notice that Jeroboam was the catalyst for the demise of the nation of Israel (2 Kings 23:15 – “… Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin…â€). This moG had an important place in establishing God’s legacy during this time of evil.
Bible readers are not strangers to the concept of God asking someone to do something and then seeing an obedient result. This may be something we take for granted, though. Being surrounded by stories of obedience – by people who consistently obey God – may not necessarily result in our continual obedience. We can agree that obeying God is great. We can earnestly desire obedience. We can promise or commit to obedience. But at the end of the day, it will be our choice to obey God that results in obedience.
Maybe you read stories like the one above and think, “If God personally talked to me and told me exactly what to do, then I would do it.†Or maybe you read this story and you think, “moG had an important mission in Israel’s history – obeying God was more important for him than it is for me.†Or perhaps you think, “If I knew what God’s will was, then I would obey – but I just don’t know.â€
A very wise man, my dear old Dad, taught me this concept: God will not reveal His future will for you while you are disobeying His present will.
We are so caught up in knowing what God wants for us to do tomorrow while we ignore what He has already told us to do today, or yesterday. The Bible is full of God’s will for us. Are there “do not-s†that you are still doing? Are there “do-s†that you are not doing?
Surpass the conscious awareness of obedience. Supersede the empty commitment of obedience. Make a daily choice to obey. Focus on doing what you already know. Understand that as important as it was for moG to obey God, it is equally important that you obey God. We can all be men and women of God. As proud as I am, I would rather be remembered as a nameless moG than as Zac.
But the story of moG does not end here. A valuable lesson is still to come. Next week: the exciting and bizarre conclusion to the saga of the nameless moG…
-z
[...] Last week, we read about a nameless man of God in 1 Kings 13. I call him moG. He was given a task by God and he obeyed God. When we left him, he was leaving Bethel on his way home. Perhaps he was skipping or at least had a bounce in his step. He had confronted the king of Israel, given an important prophecy, and destroyed the idolatrous altar. He had witnessed a miracle. He was offered a reward, but he refused the invitation to stick around. He had obeyed God precisely. I see him as being content with his day’s work and hopeful for the immediate future of Israel. Things were about to get very bad, though. [...]