Biblical Reference: 1 Kings 13:1-6

Context: The event of Jeroboam's hand withering occurs during the reign of King Jeroboam I of Israel, who ruled from approximately 931 to 910 BC. Jeroboam was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the division of the united monarchy. His reign is marked by significant religious apostasy, as he established alternative centers of worship in Bethel and Dan to prevent the Israelites from going to Jerusalem, which was in the southern kingdom of Judah.

Narrative Summary: In 1 Kings 13, a man of God from Judah is sent by the LORD to Bethel to deliver a prophetic message against the altar that Jeroboam had erected. As Jeroboam stands by the altar to burn incense, the man of God cries out against the altar, prophesying that a future king named Josiah will desecrate it by burning the bones of its priests upon it. As a sign, the altar is to be split apart, and its ashes poured out.

Upon hearing this prophecy, King Jeroboam stretches out his hand from the altar, commanding his men to seize the man of God. At that moment, Jeroboam's hand withers, becoming paralyzed and unusable. Simultaneously, the altar splits apart, and the ashes pour out, fulfilling the sign given by the man of God.

Biblical Text : "When King Jeroboam heard the word that the man of God had cried out against the altar at Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar and said, 'Seize him!' But the hand he had stretched out toward the man shriveled up, so that he could not pull it back." (1 Kings 13:4)

Theological Significance: The withering of Jeroboam's hand serves as a divine judgment and a powerful sign of God's disapproval of Jeroboam's idolatrous practices. It underscores the authority of the prophetic word and the seriousness of leading the people of Israel into sin. The immediate fulfillment of the sign—the altar splitting and the king's hand withering—demonstrates God's sovereignty and the certainty of His prophetic declarations.

Repentance and Restoration: In response to his affliction, Jeroboam pleads with the man of God to intercede with the LORD for the restoration of his hand. The man of God prays, and the LORD graciously restores Jeroboam's hand to its former state. This act of mercy highlights God's willingness to forgive and restore, even in the face of rebellion, when there is a genuine appeal for His intervention.

Biblical Text : "So the king answered and said to the man of God, 'Please entreat the LORD your God and pray for me, that my hand may be restored.' So the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him as it was before." (1 Kings 13:6)

Moral and Spiritual Lessons: The incident of Jeroboam's hand withering serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of idolatry and disobedience to God's commands. It illustrates the consequences of leading others astray and the importance of heeding the warnings of God's messengers. Furthermore, it reveals God's readiness to extend grace and healing to those who seek Him, even when they have strayed from His ways.