Day 6 - Death By Lion!
- Pastor b.Side
- Jul 6
- 3 min read
Now when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard [it], he said, “It [is] the man of God who was disobedient to the word of the LORD. Therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke to him.” - 1 Kings 13:26
God can do anything He desires. However, He doesn’t wield His strength randomly or carelessly. God is very precise and deliberate in exercising His power, despite its immense nature. In fact, part of what makes God’s power so great is the targeted restraint He shows when judging people. When we think of destructive power, we often envision catastrophic chaos. God’s judgments can indeed be catastrophic, but the expression of power behind His anger is far from chaotic.
“It [is] the man of God…”
The testimony of 1 Kings 13:26 clearly illustrates this truth. In 1 Kings Chapter 13, God sent a man simply called “a man of God” to warn the Northern Kingdom of Israel about their idolatry and the consequences they would face. The LORD gave this man very specific instructions to make sure he and the message he delivered were recognized as God’s divine warning. After speaking to the king, the man of God sat under a tree, waiting for the LORD’s next instruction. While waiting, a man called “a prophet” invited the man of God to his home to eat, claiming that God endorsed the invitation. The man of God disobeyed the LORD’s original command by accepting the prophet’s invitation. God judged the man of God for his disobedience. As he was riding home on his donkey, he was attacked by a lion and killed.
“Therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion…”
This testimony shows that God always has the power to judge those who disobey His commands. He is present everywhere, at all times, ensuring He is always ready to deliver justice as He sees fit. In this case, God used a lion. God proved that His power exceeds that of a lion by using the creature as His personal tool of discipline. Furthermore, God demonstrated even greater power by controlling the lion. The scriptures say that the lion sat calmly next to the man's body. Even with the man’s donkey nearby, the lion did not attack the donkey. God directed the lion to confront the man for his sin and then made it sit beside him, preventing further harm, to distinguish this event as “an act of God.”
“According to the word of the LORD…”
This testimony provides insight into how God will judge in the last days. The LORD will send the LION of the tribe of Judah to devour those who reject His Word and follow false teachings to satisfy their personal desires. He will completely destroy His enemies while demonstrating restraint, targeting ONLY those who reject Him. Since He is present everywhere at all times, there will be nowhere to run or hide. The way God has judged people in the past serves as strong proof that He can fulfill His promises for the future!
Prayer for today
Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing the true power of Your judgments and for promising that Your children are not appointed to Your wrath. Help us serve You with reverence and humility. We pray for grateful hearts, for the instrument of Your judgment is also our Savior, Jesus Christ! Amen.
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