2 Kgs 1:1-18
Today, we move on to the second book of Kings, and this book started with a very interesting story. We had a fiery encounter involving Elijah in the first book of Kings, but there was another fiery act kicking off this new book.
Ahaziah took over from Ahab his father, but Moab however rebelled against him. We were later told the king was sick after falling from his upper chamber. He then sent servants to go to Ekron to inquire of Baal-zebub if he would recover. God‘s angel however told Elijah of this development and as instructed he told the kings servants, “was there no God in Israel” why was the king seeking Baal-zebub. The message was clear, the king would die.
When the servants turned back to meet the king, he was surprised and asked them what happened. And though they didn’t know his name, after narrating to him Elijah’s message, and describing how he looked, the king knew it was Elijah. So he sent a captain of fifty and his men to him. When the captain got there he told Elijah, “thou man of God, the king hath said, come down! Elijah then said, “if I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty “, and the captain and his fifty were indeed consumed! Wow!
The immediate question a lot of us would ask is why this fire this second time? While the first one was to prove God as the true God of Israel and Baal false, the only explanation I have for one is the fact that Elijah was really furious at the level of unbelief and idolatry the king persisted in by turning to Ball-zebub for help. If indeeed they knew he was a man of God, why didn’t they seek him/God for help.
The king sent another captain with his group of fifty men, and they too were consumed by fire at Elijah’s request. When a third captain was sent to Elijah, he humbled himself before him and begged him to preserve his life, thus acknowledging God’s power on him. Elijah then followed him at God’s instruction, and delivered God’s message to Ahaziah. Ahaziah died on his sick bed as God spoke through Elijah, and his son Jehoram took over afterwards.
Where do you seek help from? From God, or other securities? Is there not a God in Israel? Why look up to the hills or to things that couldn’t help you. Look up to God today!
Some verses to remember
vs 10: And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
vs 16: And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.
The Bible History Books 