Beware of the Lion

Bulletins

Brian Nielsen
10/06/24 - General

Sometimes one "no" is not nearly enough.

The man of God in 1 Kings 13 learned this all too late. At first, this man had the right answer to an old prophet. We read in verses 16-17, "And he said, 'I cannot return with you nor go in with you; neither can I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place. For I have been told by the lord, 'You shall not eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by going the way you came.' "

But just as the serpent deceived Eve and then Adam into sinning in Genesis 3, the old prophet deceived this man of God into disobeying God (1 Kings 13:18-19). For this the man paid dearly as God had him killed by a lion, which evidently was not hungry enough to eat a donkey but was used by God for a lesson (verses 20-26).

Saying no to food and water wasn't easy especially when someone made it sound OK. But what if Jesus after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights (Matthew 4:2), would have caved when Satan tempted Him to make stones bread as the all-powerful Son of God could have done? Jesus instead not once, not twice, but three times had scriptural answers for Satan in Matthew 4. "Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him." (Matthew 4:11). Jesus stayed perfect so He could be a sacrifice saving us.

Where would we be if Jesus had given into any of the agonizing torments he faced when being crucified. He was tempted but said, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." (Luke 22:42)

How did our Savior endure? The next verse tells us -- "Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him."

We can find this same strength by praying to the same heavenly Father. We can be encouraged by 1 Corinthians 10:13 -- "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

We just might have to say no more than once. We aren't promised it will be easy. Just like the man in
1 Kings 13:24, we face a lion as we read in 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

But oh, the promise Jesus gives in Matthew 10:22 saying, "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved."

(Scripture quotes are from the NKJV)