Sun.’s Devo - The Best is Yet to Come

Read:1 Kings 12:20-13:34; Acts 9:26-43; Psalm 132:1-18; Proverbs 17:6
When the people of Israel found out that Jeroboam had returned from Egypt, they made him their king. Rehoboam was left with some of Benjamin and Judah. Jeroboam made Shechem his capital which was the land between the two mountains Ebal and Gerizim. It was the place that Joshua asked the people to choose who they were going to serve - the gods of the land, or the God of Israel. Jeroboam chose the gods of the land. He also built up the town of Peniel which means “turn to God”.
Jeroboam wanted to make sure the people didn’t go back to Jerusalem on the feasts days and decide to side with Rehoboam, so he made two golden calves and set them at opposite sides of the land - Dan and Bethel. He told them that these were the gods that brought them out of Egypt so they should worship there. These gods became idols that began Israel’s deep downfall. He also appointed priests to serve that were not Levites since most of them were in Judah. He set up a feast holiday on the eighth month on the fifteenth day to imitate the Feast of Tabernacles held in the seventh month on the fifteenth day. He was a perfect anti-christ who set up everything in his kingdom to mirror God’s kingdom.
God sent a prophet to the altar at Bethel right when Jeroboam was there offering incense during his fake feast. He prophesied that one day a boy named Josiah would sacrifice the false priests on that altar. As a sign, the altar would split apart and its ashes would be poured out on the ground.
Jeroboam raised his hand to order the prophet’s death but his arm froze in mid-air. The altar split and its ashes poured out on the ground. Instead of ordering his death, he begged him to pray for his arm. The prophet did and Jeroboam asked him to his palace to eat and for a reward. The prophet told him he could never eat with him or get a reward. He was to leave immediately and go home another way.
An old prophet of Bethel was told the events and went after the young prophet. He told him that God had told him to bring him home with him to eat and drink with him, though he was lying. The young prophet obeyed and went home with him but after eating, the older prophet prophesied his death. When the young prophet left, a lion came and killed him. The older prophet went and found his bones and buried them asking to be buried beside him when he died to honor him as a true prophet.
So, what was that all about? I think that the young prophet was a type of Jeroboam. Jeroboam had started out with a prophecy from the Lord that he would be king over 10 tribes. Along the way, he lost sight of God’s word and made poor decisions. It would cost him his life just like the young prophet lost his life when he didn’t do exactly what God had told him to do.
It is a remarkable lesson in obedience.
In Acts, Paul became a true picture of the power of God to save a person. His change was a powerful as the things he did. He became such a threat to the way of religion that they had to send him to Tarsus, his hometown.
Paul was a testimony, but Peter’s miracles were his testimony. He raised a paralytic from his bed and the whole population of Lydda and Sharon turned to the Lord when they saw it.
In Joppa, one of the Greek female merchants died. Her name was Dorcas. The whole town was mourning her death so Peter went up to where she was laid out for burial and raised her from the dead. News traveled throughout the town and many came to believe in Jesus.
Lord, thank you for these wonderful testimonies of your power. We are looking forward to doing these things and greater.