3d • General discussion
Be careful who you listen to
I was reflecting on 1 Kings 13, the story of the man of God sent to Bethel.
God sends him with a clear word. He prophesies against the altar. The king becomes enraged and reaches out to seize him, and immediately the king’s hand is paralysed. The altar splits in two, exactly as the prophet declared. Power. Authority. Undeniable confirmation that God had spoken.
The king then begs for mercy. The prophet prays, and the king’s hand is restored. Yet even after witnessing the power of God firsthand, the king does not change his ways.
The prophet leaves, obeying God’s explicit instruction: do not eat or drink in that place, and do not return the way you came.
And this is where the story becomes unsettling.
The prophet who heard God clearly, who saw His power move so dramatically, is later deceived by another man who claims to be a prophet. This man lies, saying an angel spoke to him and gave a new instruction from the Lord.
Why was he deceived?
If God had changed His mind, surely He would have spoken again to the very prophet He first commissioned — not through a stranger. The prophet knew the voice of God. Yet he listened to a voice that sounded familiar, spiritual, even trustworthy.
And it cost him his life.
The question presses in on us today: where does this leave us?
We live in a time filled with voices. Voices that sound convincing. Voices that quote Scripture. Voices that appear gentle, wise, and godly. But Scripture warns us to test the spirits to see whether they are from God (1 John 4:1). And it also reminds us that in later times some will follow deceiving spirits (1 Timothy 4:1).
Not every spiritual voice is from God.
This is why we must be anchored in the Word. God’s Word is truth. He does not lie. He does not contradict Himself. He does not change His nature. And He will never call us to do something that runs contrary to what He has already spoken.
Sometimes the most dangerous voices are not harsh or obvious — they are sweet, familiar, and subtly invite us away from the truth we already know.
Our adversary seeks those he can devour. And as the days grow darker, discernment will not be optional — it will be essential.
Stay anchored.
Stay discerning.
Stay faithful to what God has already said.
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Be careful who you listen to
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