A prophet from Judah prophesied against Jeroboam's altar and was invited by the king to eat with him, but refused due to God's command. An old prophet from Bethel lied and said God told him to bring the prophet back, who then ate with him and was killed by a lion on his way home as judgment for disobeying God's command. The story teaches that we must obey God rather than men and will all give an account to God for our actions.