At the time of the feast at Bethel the hearts of the Israelites were not fully hardened. Many were susceptible to the influence of the Holy Spirit. The Lord designed that those 105 who were taking rapid steps in apostasy should be checked in their course before it should be too late. He sent His messenger to interrupt the idolatrous proceedings and to reveal to king and people what the outworking of this apostasy would be. The rending of the altar was a sign of God's displeasure at the abomination that was being wrought in Israel.

Israelitternes hjerte var ikke fuldstændig forhærdet, da festen i Betel fandt sted. Mange var endnu modtagelige for Helligåndens påvirkning. Herren besluttede at standse dem, der hastede imod frafaldet, inden det var for sent, Han lod sit sendebud afbryde ceremonierne ved afgudsbilledet og lod ham gøre det klart for konge og folk, hvilke følger frafaldet ville få. Alterets ødelæggelse var et tegn på Guds mishag over de vederstyggeligheder, som blev begået i Israel.