(2 Kings 1:1-18) Now Moab broke with Israel after the death of Ahab. 2 And Ahaziah fell through the window lattice in his upper chamber which was in Samaria, and became ill. So he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this sickness.” 3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’ 4 Now therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not get down from the bed upon which you have lain, but you shall certainly die.’” Then Elijah departed.
5 When the messengers returned to Ahaziah, he said to them, “Why have you returned?” 6 They said to him, “A man came up to meet us and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you and say to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not get down from the bed upon which you have lain, but you shall certainly die.’”’” 7 Then he said to them, “What did the man look like, who came up to meet you and spoke these words to you?” 8 And they said to him, “He was a hairy man with a leather belt worn around his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”
9 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. And he went up to him, and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. And he said to him, “You man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’” 10 But Elijah replied to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.
11 So the king again sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty men. And he said to him, “You man of God, this is what the king says: ‘Come down quickly!’” 12 But Elijah replied to them, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.
13 So the king again sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty men. When the third captain of fifty went up, he came and bowed down on his knees before Elijah, and begged him and said to him, “You man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight. 14 Behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight.” 15 And the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he got up and went down with him to the king. 16 Then he said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Since you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron—is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word? Therefore you will not get down from the bed upon which you have lain, but you shall certainly die.’”
17 So Ahaziah died in accordance with the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken. And since he had no son, Jehoram became king in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. 18 Now as for the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
We have two different issues presented here. The first one is when people have a difficult time hearing the truth. Have you ever had a parent or spouse tell you something several times, but you don't want to believe it - until - someone else says the same thing! And then there are those who say, "God would have to come down and tell me, Himself, and then I'd believe." Well... He did that!!! And people crucified Him. And after the Lord rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven, His disciples themselves, filled with the Holy Spirit, went around and told people the good news. Some believed, but many still rejected this truth.
There are also many people who think that if Jesus were to come to earth today, His message would somehow be different. And some people think that because the Bible was written almost 2,000 years ago, by more than 40 different men over a span of over 1,500 years... that this somehow disqualifies the Bible from being God's words. But this fact only makes it more obvious that scripture is infallible and God-breathed, making it possible for anyone to read and know God's perfect truth. The more I study, the more amazed I am at the Lord's consistent, timeless, relevant and life-changing message.
The other issue is that - when people don't trust or appreciate what God says, they turn to other things or people, thinking they will find "different truths" that will benefit their lives more. People will sooner embrace the advice and guidance from friends, music, movies, articles, religions, cults... and even the occult.
Sadly, the occult is gaining popularity and acceptance within society. People think it is cool and helpful to find guidance and insight through séances, Ouija boards, horoscopes, tarot cards... Or people think they can find healing and power through crystals, or burning sage, or kicking around a coconut dusted in flour... At best, this is all nonsense and made up, and worse, if and when an actual demon steps in to mess with one's life. Satan is the father of lies, with the goal to distort, deceive, divide and destroy.
Meanwhile, there is a sovereign God who is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent, who loves us so much, and desires to have a close, personal relationship with us! What kind of loving God would He be if He didn't communicate clearly and consistently?! The Lord and His word never changes, and never fails! God has given us the Bible so that He can speak directly to us, to lead us to salvation and guide us in a purpose-filled life of unspeakable peace and joy!
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