1 Kings 13:3 That same day the man of God gave a sign: "This is the sign the LORD has declared: The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out."

There are times when God acts drastically and dramatically. This was one of them. Jeroboam was the first king of the northern kingdom after Solomon, and he instituted a substitute religion for that northern kingdom so that they would not have to go south to Jerusalem to worship God at the Temple in Jerusalem. He set up an altar on the border at Bethel as if to say to the people, you need go no further than here to worship. Was God happy with this? No!

 

Thus as Jeroboam was offering sacrifices on this altar at Bethel, this man comes and brings this prophecy. As time passed the king no doubt thought, well thank goodness, that couldn't have been God's word, but it was. Some three hundred years later Josiah was born and this word was fulfilled – see 2 Kings 23:15-20.

 

Is God in a hurry to fulfil His word? No! So why does He bring it? As a wake-up call for those in the present as if to say, you would be wise to change. I will do this in my time but I would much prefer you to take steps to bring changes so that it will not be necessary. When the Lord brings corrective prophecy He always gives us opportunity to act and respond rightly. He would much prefer we brought ourselves in line with His will rather than He has to force it on us through His disciplinary judgement. He gives us free will. We would do well to use it wisely.