Let me tell you a crazy, obscure story from the Old Testament–
Prophet A came to Bethel and prophesied destruction. As he was leaving, the king invited him to the palace for a meal. Prophet A said, “If you were to offer me half your kingdom, I would not eat with you, for this is what I was commanded by the Lord:
“You must not eat bread or drink water in this place” 1 Kings 13:8-9.
Prophet B lived in Bethel. When he heard what had happened, he told his sons to saddle his donkey. He caught up to Prophet A.
“Are you the man of God?”
“I am.”
“Then come home with me and eat.”
“I cannot go back, eat bread, or drink water, for a message came to me by the word of the Lord, ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or go back by the way you came.”
Prophet B replied:
“I am also a prophet. An angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.”
So Prophet A was persuaded and went to the home of Prophet B and ate with him.
During the meal the word of the Lord came to Prophet B and he shouted at Prophet A:
“This is what the Lord says, ‘Because you rebelled and … went back and ate bread and drank water … your corpse will never reach the grave of your fathers.”
The two prophets finished the meal, Prophet A left, and a lion killed him and sat guarding the body until Prophet B retrieved the body and buried it, 1 Kings 13:11-30.
Prophet A was starving. He was tempted but obedient—until Prophet B played the THUS SAYETH THE LORD card. But Prophet B was lying when he said an angel had come to him (verse 18).
Obedience is simple when God speaks clearly. But what if someone else says God told them something too? Do you listen (like Eve in the Garden)?
You must obey the Lord. He holds you responsible for obeying what He tells YOU. Remember: God spoke to you once. If He has something new to say, He can say that to you also, not to some other person.
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