Skip to main content

A Man, A Donkey, and A Lion

A man was sent by God to deliver a message to the King of Israel. He went and cried out against the king, saying he would be removed and replaced by a child and that the altar would split in half. The king had once been a follower of God, blessed by him. But in his heart he had turned away from God. He feared men more than God. He built altars to other gods, appointed his own priests, and had allowed ungodly men to occupy seats of his counsel and leadership positions. This he allowed under his leadership. The man of God on that day delivered the message from God against him.

The king had been at the house of God that day and heard the man cry out so he reached out his hand against him, to cease him, but his hand withered so he could not pull it back. Then what the man had spoken occurred before his eyes, the altar split in two. The king then asked the man to pray for favor from God, that his hand would be restored. So the man of God asked of the Lord and his hand was restored. Then the king said to the man of God, Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a gift.

But the messenger refused saying, If you were to give me half your house, I would not go in with you; nor would I eat bread nor drink water in this place. For so it was commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘You shall not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way you came.’” So he went another way and did not return by the way he came.

Now the sons of an elder prophet of God had come home telling their father this story. So the elder went after the man of God and found him resting. Then he said to him, Are you the man of God who spoke against our king? And he said, I am. So the elder asked him to come to his home. But the man of God told him he could not and why. But the elder replied, I too am a man of God as you are and the Lord spoke to me, saying, Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he had heard from God.

So the man of God went back with the elder, and ate bread and drank in his house. But as they sat at the table the word of the Lord came to the elder to speak against the man of God saying, Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord, and have not kept the commandment which the Lord your God commanded you, but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place of which the Lord said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.

So the man of God left on his donkey and when he was gone, a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his corpse was thrown on the road, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the corpse. And there, men passed by and saw the corpse thrown on the road, and the lion standing by the corpse. The lion did not eat the corpse nor attack the donkey and the donkey did not flee from the lion. Then they went and told it in the cities. When the elder heard, he said it is the man who disobeyed God, therefore the Lord delivered him to the lion.2

Even after this event the king still did not turn from his ways and again he appointed ungodly men to his counsel and leadership positions, he did whatever he wished and this thing was the sin which would destroy his house and removed it. Because of the sin of Solomon God had split up the kingdom of Israel, he had made Jeroboam king over the northern ten tribes. Jeroboam followed God for a while but he was afraid the people would leave the northern kingdom and go back to worship at the temple in Judah so he made two calves of gold and commanded the people to worship them instead.3 This was an abomination to God.

God said to Jeroboam: Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you ruler over My people Israel, and tore the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it to you; and yet you have not been as My servant David, who kept My commandments and who followed Me with all his heart, to do only what was right in My eyes. But you have done more evil than all who were before you, for you have gone and made for yourself other gods and molded images to provoke Me to anger, and have cast Me behind your back. 

 Therefore behold! I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, bond and free; I will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as one takes away refuse until it is all gone. The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Jeroboam and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field; for the Lord has spoken.4

A Man, A Donkey, and A Lion was witness to the man of God's message that it would surely come to pass. God did not remove Jeroboam as king, but his son would die and his family would eventually be wiped out, both as God had said. God would give Israel up, scattering them, because of the sins of Jeroboam, who sinned and who made Israel sin.5

It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left,6

Popular Posts

The Tripartite Nature of Humanity: Spirit, Soul, and Body

The Tripartite Nature of Humanity: Spirit, Soul, and Body in Biblical Understanding The human being, as depicted in the Bible, is a multifaceted creation, often understood through the distinct yet interconnected components of spirit, soul, and body. While some theological perspectives lean towards a bipartite view (soul and body), which we do see in the Old Testament, a careful examination of the New Testament scripture reveals a compelling case for a tripartite understanding, where each is divided into or composed of three parts. Let’s explore the biblical distinction between spirit, soul, and body. The Body: Our Earthly Vessel The body is the physical form that interacts with the material world. From the very beginning, Genesis 2:7 states, " Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being ." This verse clearly establishes the body's origin from the earth, emphasizing its connec...
Read more

Blessed Are The Forgiven

Blessed! the one whose lawless deeds are forgiven and the one whose sins are covered over, blessed is the man whom sin, the Lord will not consider . * Paul writes David foresaw and spoke " blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered . *  Blessed, is the one whom sin is not considered, this word considered  means "to credit, count, reckon, to set down as a matter of account; regard, think, consider." This blessing comes through faith and according to grace, " also David speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God considers righteousness apart from works ." *  The word for  lawless deeds speaks of the violation of the Law and the word for sin  speaks of missing the mark of God's righteousness. Blessed are those who (by faith in Christ according to grace) have been forgiven. In Him receiving the redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of trespasses according to the riches of His grace . * This fundamental ...
Read more

Lord, Stand By Me

"... present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness ." 1 This word for present means "I bring, present, come up to and stand by," it is parístēmi (from pará, "from close-beside" and hístēmi, "to stand") – properly, stand close beside, i.e. ready to present (exhibit). I pray Lord stand by me which expresses that I put my trust in Him, or I come up to and stand by Him. We use phrases like surrendering or bowing at the cross to explain such a moment, surely it is a coming to the end of ourselves and it is desirable that I find His will acceptable, but it is important to understand that it is about trust, not my will power, the key is that it is in Christ. The terminology the scriptures use is "present yourselves to God," or come up to and stand by and walk with Him. "... present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this...
Read more

So That You Have Life

the thief comes but to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that having life and having it more so (John 10:10) The next few verses give us context of the realm of life and death that Jesus speaks of. The wolf comes, no doubt referring to Satan, he attacks the flock to kill, steal, and destroy. But Jesus came that we may have life, he lays his life down for the sheep. The life he gives is eternal, but he said it is living water, like a fountain that gushes up unto eternal life, thus we experience life in this mortal body, unto its fullness. Jesus became flesh and blood like his brethren to save them, this is how God demonstrates his love. "I know my own and they know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father and I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:14). Jesus came so that we may have life. but you do not believe because existing not of my flock. My sheep listen to my voice and I know them and they follow, just as I give them eternal life and no not per...
Read more

Spirit of Life

" Indeed, the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus liberates from the law of sin and death ." 1 This word for liberates "I free, set free, liberate" is from a root word meaning free, exempt, not bound by an obligation. As partakers of God's divine nature, being born of Spirit, we are no longer obligated to the sinful nature but to righteousness which is God's nature. When we believe we receive the Spirit of promise, a guarantee of our inheritance, a great testimony that we are His children, it is a Spirit of Life. " Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." 24 The Son came not to condemn the world but to save it. "One trespass   led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. " 6 " He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and wa...
Read more

True Widows: A Biblical Perspective

True Widows: A Biblical Perspective Throughout Scripture, God's compassion for widows is evident. He is portrayed as their defender, provider, and source of justice. The Bible repeatedly calls believers to care for widows, reflecting God's own heart for the vulnerable. However, in his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul provides a specific definition of a "true" widow, emphasizing the church's responsibility in supporting those who are genuinely in need. God's Compassion for Widows The Old Testament is rich with passages that reveal God's concern for widows. In Exodus 22:22, God commands, "You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child." This verse underscores His protective nature, ensuring that widows are not mistreated or neglected. Similarly, Deuteronomy 10:18 declares, "He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing." Here, God is depicted as a just and loving prov...
Read more

Freedom from the Mosaic Law: A Deep Theological Exploration of New Testament Teaching

Freedom from the Mosaic Law: A Deep Theological Exploration of New Testament Teaching Introduction: The Question of the Mosaic Law and Christian Identity One of the most significant theological debates and practical challenges for the early church was the place of the Mosaic Law in the life of believers in Jesus Christ. This question remains alive today, particularly in communities and churches that quote the Old Testament as if its legal prescriptions still directly obligate Christians. The apostolic writings, especially those of Paul, provide the primary lens through which the New Testament resolves this matter. Paul’s letters—rich in both theological reflection and ecclesiastical urgency—not only confront false teaching but chart the path of new covenant living by the Holy Spirit.  This essay seeks to offer a doctrinal synthesis on why believers are no longer “under the Mosaic Law,” supported by original-language insights, harmonized scripture references, and commentary drawn...
Read more

All Who Are Thirsty

“ Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;  and he who has no money,  come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk  without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,  and your labor for that which does not satisfy?  Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,  and delight yourselves in rich food. .." (Isaiah 55). " Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price ." Buy is defined as to acquire the ownership of by giving an accepted price or consideration therefore; to accept or believe as true .[ 1 ] When we buy something we consider the price that we must pay, we accept this and purchase the thing we have considered worthy of the sacrifice we make in payment. W e can not buy, with money or price, redemption from t his tragic flaw we are born into. However Jesus paid the price for us, so we buy or accept through consideration, the Greek word is  logizomai.[ 2] ...
Read more

The Promises of God Series

THE PROMISES OF GOD SERIES Series Introduction The promises of God are the unfolding expressions of one eternal purpose, conceived in God before the foundation of the world, revealed through covenant, and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Why The Promises of God Matter explains why they are important to believers. This series functions as a theological hub—a unified framework that weaves together distinct promises without collapsing them into a single category. Each promise stands on its own, yet each flows from the same eternal source and prepares the way for the next. Together they testify to the faithfulness of God across redemptive history. The Coherence of God’s Promises One eternal purpose, planned in God Revealed through covenant Fulfilled in Christ Applied by the Spirit of truth Consummated in glory Each article in this series may be read independently, yet each gains depth when read alongside...
Read more

Theological Comparison of the New Covenant of Grace and the Old Covenant of the Law

Theological Comparison of the New Covenant of Grace and the Old Covenant of the Law: A Detailed Study Rooted in Ephesians 2:11–22 Introduction The theme of covenant is central to the biblical narrative, shaping God’s relationship with humanity from creation through redemption. The new covenant is called by Paul a ministry of reconciliation, righteousness, and of the Spirit. The shift from the old Mosaic covenant—rooted in the Law given to Israel at Sinai—to the new covenant of grace established in Christ, fundamentally redefines how people approach God, community, and salvation. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, particularly 2:11–22, provides a remarkably clear and rich theological exposition of this transition, addressing not only the spiritual implications for Jews and Gentiles but also the very nature of the church as God’s new creation. This report develops an in-depth, paragraph-driven theological comparison between the old and new covenants, structured around nine key themes de...
Read more