adapted from 1 Kings 13:1-10; 2 Kings 23:15-18 by M. K. Hering

Bethel, Israel, 928 B.C.

Thick spiritual darkness covered the land. On the high places and in every shrine, idols cast chilling shadows over the hearts of the people. The king, Jeroboam, was a liar, a traitor and a cheat. He built temples where unholy priests burned incense to man-made gods; the pungent scent of sin wafted across the nation. Israel forgot the Lord.

But the Lord did not forget Israel.

From the southern tribe of Judah, God called forth a prophet—a man to fight the darkness. This is his story:

The prophet stood outside Jeroboam’s temple. Though the shrine was new, it was a child’s stick house compared to Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem. The prophet spat on the ground outside the heavy cedar doors. He would rather defile himself by eating pig flesh than step inside the walls of Jeroboam’s evil. He knew the temple corrupted the whole city. God had told him not to eat or drink anything in Bethel. He was to remain clean; for this reason he hesitated to enter the house of sin.

But he was doing God’s business. Pushing open the doors and stepping inside, the man blinked to get used to the darkness. Priests wearing plain yet extravagent robes knelt in private nooks. One fumbled with some candles, and others muttered prayers. Two guards stood just inside the doorway to prevent the poor from robbing the temple’s riches. As he breathed the thick air, the prophet smelled burning incense—sweet and musty.

He saw the altar at the back of the temple. Behind it on a platform sat a great golden calf. Its eyes stared straight ahead, but did not see the man who was worshipping it.

Though the prophet had never seen the king before, he knew the man by his clothes: the great folds of royal, purple cloth; the gold and silver neck bands. King Jeroboam’s clean, soft hands were turned upward in silent prayer.

Stepping forward, the prophet of God broke the stillness.

“O altar, altar!” he called. “The Lord says this: ‘A man named Josiah shall come to this place. But instead of burning incense, he will burn human bones. On you, O altar, he shall burn the bones of your priests!”

King Jeroboam froze when he heard the words. Who was cursing the altar? he wondered. He turned to look at the man. Aha! he thought. He’s nothing but a poor wretch.

As if reading the king’s mind, the prophet from Judah said, “As a sign that I come from God, this altar will fall, and the ashes will spill out.”

The king would not listen to any more threats. He sneered in disgust. “Seize him!” Jeroboam called to the guards, motioning for them to capture the prophet.

Suddenly the altar was seared in half by a bright light. Gray ashes from the incense scattered on the stone floor. At the same time, the king’s outstretched arm decayed like withered wood. It hung helpless and limp.

“Man of God!” Jeroboam cried. “Please, beg your God to have mercy. Heal me.” He offered the unnatural arm to the man from Judah.

The prophet wanted to spit again, so much did he loathe the king. He could walk away and never return, leaving King Jeroboam crippled. But in his heart he knew God wanted something else. The man lifted his head and, in a voice like a roar, called to the Lord: “O God Most High, heal the hand of the king so he will know the true and holy God!”

In a heartbeat, the king’s arm softened and was healed. Jeroboam stood and moved his arm. “Come home with me and dine, and I will give you a great gift,” the king enticed the prophet.

But the holy man turned away.

“I would die before I sipped water from your table,” he said. “Even if you gave me half your kingdom, I would not eat the crust of your bread.”

Pushing open the great cedar doors, the prophet left Jeroboam’s temple never to return.

Bethel, Israel, 615 B.C.

King Josiah stood on the high place. Nothing of King Jeroboam’s temple was left but dust. Nearby were graves of the false priests.

“Take these bones out of the tombs,” Josiah said to his men. “Burn the skeletons on the altar. Get rid of everything evil.”

After the flames had scorched the bones, Josiah said, “Who is in the last tomb?”

“Do not disturb that grave,” the local people answered. “It holds the bones of the prophet from Judah. He has been waiting 300 years for you.”

“Well,” Josiah said, “Let him wait no more. God’s justice has been done.”

	Q: What did one lightbulb say to the other one? A: “Watt are you doing?” Charles R., 10, Georgia Clubhouse Jr. Click here to subscribe