Slapping a Prophet with a Lion

If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead, you remember the first time Carol Peletier met King Ezekiel. Flanking the king were his bodyguard Jerry and his pet tiger Shiva. Carol was understandably and noticeably afraid of the tiger, but she played along with the king because he had shown kindness as she recovered from an injury.

It’s hard to blame Carol for her nervousness at coming face to face with a tiger. I wouldn’t want to come face to face with a tiger, an elephant, a gorilla, or any other wild animal. But one prophet came face to face with a lion, and he became its food.

The word of the LORD came to a prophet, so he asked one of his companions, “Strike me with your weapon,” but his friend refused (1 Ki 20:35). “So the prophet said, ‘Because you have not obeyed the LORD, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you.’ And after the man went away, a lion found him and killed him” (1 Ki 20:36).

Obedience to God is important. God told the prophet to strike his friend with his weapon, but the other prophet refused to carry out such a “strange” request. Why would God want him to hit his friend? God had a purpose—to disguise the prophet to Ahab. Just because we do not know God’s purpose does not mean he doesn’t have one. God had told the prophet to strike his friend with his weapon, and God expected obedience.

Whatever God has said, God means. It’s not up to you and me to decide what we want to do; it’s up to us to do what God has said.

So many don’t want to do what God has said. When it comes to the church, they want to add instrumental music or expand women’s roles or fellowship with denominational groups. When it comes to their personal lives, they want to tell “white lies” or engage in sexual immorality or gossip or hate. When it comes to their family lives, they want to mistreat their kids or ignore their children’s spiritual lives or speak harshly to their spouse.

We must remember God doesn’t take disobedience lightly. He expects obedience. Disobedience—even when we don’t understand his commands—has consequences.