Year 1, Day 364: 2 Kings 1

Where Is Your God?

“Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Ba’al-zebub?”  That is such an incredibly famous quote.  But it caused me to ponder today.

Is it because we lack faith in God that we spend so much time trying to gain wisdom from television programs and textbooks?  Is it because there is no God dwelling among us that we seldom gather in Christian community and instead choose to have fellowship with our televisions, game consoles, and internet?  Is it because there is no God in our public preaching that the world instead listens to televangelists, motivational speakers, and “feel-good” psychology-theologians?

We as human beings are constantly seeking.  But where is it that we are looking for the fulfillment of our quest?  This is precisely the issue that God has with Ahaziah – his quest to gain the wisdom of other nations demonstrates his utter lack of faith in God. 

It is not much different with us.  When we pursue the world – especially those among us who profess to be Christian, what is the message that we send to God?  If we really believe God is the creator and sustainer of life, would we spend so much time pursuing other things?  If we really believe God is all we need, would we spend so much time letting our hearts lust after the stuff of this world?

The Captain and His Fifty Men

Moving on, I was challenged on many levels today by the portion of the story where the captains come before Elijah and fire consumes them.  But before we get there, let’s look at the first party that the king sends out.  I was amazed at the story when Elijah came and spoke to the first group that the king sent out who then returned to the king.  The king had to ask them what the man that they met looked like.  Then the king had to tell them who Elijah was!

That should tell us something of the state of the northern kingdom.  The people didn’t even know who Elijah was!  How do the people miss Elijah, who through the power of God does incredible signs and wonders that display God’s power?

Okay, let’s return to the armed contingents that the king sent out to bring Elijah to him.  This story shows the utter contempt that the people had for the bearers of God’s wisdom.  How is it that it took three tries for someone to come and show a little humbleness?

I guess this isn’t a new problem to our modern culture.  Here is Elijah, a man of God who has already shown that God’s power is active within him.  Don’t forget the story about the priests of Ba’al and the fire from heaven.  One would assume that he should be approached with some caution and reverence. 

But this is not the case.  The captains of the guard come with men as if to arrest him.  They are convinced in their power and the power of the king.  Elijah has nothing to do with them and they die.

Only the third captain shows respect for Elijah and his relationship with God.  This goes to show us how we should view those in our lives in whom God is present.  No, it doesn’t mean that God will immediately consume us with fire if we do not respect His presence within others.  But we should still learn to respect those through whom God has chosen to work.

Reloading This Story

Now let’s take this same story and spin it on its head.  Elijah is the vehicle through which 102 people die in this story.  (2 captains, each with a complement of 50 guards) How many of us would have looked highly upon Elijah if we heard what he did in this story?  My guess is that most of us wouldn’t want to get too close to him.  We wouldn’t want him to be our pastor.  We would probably reject Elijah because he is a murderer of people!  Again, don’t forget the story about the altars and the priests of Ba’al where several more hundred people died!  Elijah is a pretty scary guy when you think about it.

This makes me think along several lines:

• The prophets of God weren’t often all that likeable.
• The prophets of God often did things that would not have gained them the favor of the people.
• Human beings have a tendency to judge our company by what we think is right and wrong and not by what God has judged righteous.
• Human beings often reject those whom God has put into their life.

I don’t know that there is a tremendous amount of wisdom there, but I think it is worthwhile contemplating how we would have reacted to Elijah had we been a fly on the wall during these meetings.  Would we have had the ability to commend Elijah’s faith or would we have gotten upset at the death of the 102?  Would we have wanted to get close to Elijah?  Remember, from the perspective of Judaism Elijah is thought of as the greatest prophet who ever lived.  How many of us can honestly say that we are in a spiritual position of accepting who Elijah is and the level of commitment he had for the Lord in terms of rejecting the ways of the Lord?

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