29/02/2020 - THE ATTITUDE OF ONE WHO WAS NOT WISE

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So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. “Man of God,” he begged, “please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! 2 Kings 1.13

When a householder or the ruler of a nation is arrogant, those who have him as head will be arrogant as well. King Ahaziah was the son of Ahab and Jezebel, a godless couple promoting Baal worship in their country, the northern kingdom. The way they treated the people, and especially the Lord, made almost every inhabitant of this kingdom live contrary to divine commandments. That was very harmful!

One day Ahaziah fell through the fence of a tall room in his house and got hurt. Because he was not taught to seek the Lord, but the gods made up by his parents – and there were many – decided to send an entourage to the land of the Philistines to ask Baal, the lord of the flies, if he would be healed of this evil ( 2Rs 1.2). The angel of the Lord told Elijah to stop the royal caravan and give the king a message. The prophet obeyed.

Upon learning of the purpose of the caravan, Elijah sent the king’s messengers back and asked him if there was no God in Israel to be consulted, rather than asking the help of a false Philistine god (v. 3,4). Ahaziah was surprised that they had returned so quickly, telling him that a man had sent a message. The king then asked what his appearance looked like, and they described the prophet’s robes.

Ahaziah concluded that it was Elijah, who had proved to Ahab and Jezebel that only the Lord is God, killing 450 prophets of Baal and 400 of the idol. Filled with fury, Ahaziah summoned a captain with 50 soldiers at his command and told them to seek the prophet who dared to say that the caravan did not go to Ekron.

The captain found Elijah on top of a hill. When he saw him unceremoniously, he said, Man of God, the king says, Comedown (v. 9). Elijah replied that if he were a man of God, fire from heaven would come down and consume the captain and his soldiers, and it happened. The king sent another officer with more men. He commanded the prophet to descend quickly and heard the same answer, and he and his soldiers died.

Ahaziah again sent another captain with the third group of 50 soldiers. This officer was wise, for he went up the hill, knelt before the prophet, and pleaded for his own life and that of his followers. Then the angel of God sent Elijah down with him (v. 15). Upon entering the palace, he immediately said that the king would die, because he did not seek the Lord, but Baal. And thus died Ahaziah!

Always obey the Scriptures! You will be wise and will win every battle!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares