Scripture

Our verse for today comes from 2 Kings 1:11, “Then he sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty men. And he answered and said to him, ‘Man of God, thus has the king said, “Come down, quickly!”‘”

Background

King Ahaziah did not like the message that he was going to die that he received from this supposed man of God, Elijah, so he became obsessed with seeing him in person to hear for himself what he had to say. He forgot all about trying to find out his future from his false god Baal-Zebub, and instead sent a captain and his fifty men to bring Elijah in. Well, God’s verdict had already been delivered to Ahaziah, so the Lord sent down fire and consumed the captain and his men right there before Elijah. Not to be deterred, Ahaziah sends another company of fifty with its captain, and they, too, were consumed by fire. But Ahaziah refuses to blink first, and so he sends another band of fifty. But this time, rather than demanding that Elijah come with him, the captain begs Elijah for mercy. And God grants it. So Elijah comes down to meet with the king, but his message is still unchanged. King Ahaziah is to die for his unbelief.

Application

So why all the unnecessary carnage? Ahaziah could have ignored Elijah and his God as he had done all his life, or heeded his message, but why did he have to persistently pursue him? No doubt Elijah figured his work was done once he gave the word to the king’s messengers. And he would have been surprised to keep receiving armies of men from the king, only to watch God strike them down. But temptation and the world don’t always just go away after we have dealt with them once, do they? A victory today can be countered with a captain’s army tomorrow. Your thoughts that you were through with an issue may only invite challenges of another kind. And even if we’re prepared, the struggle can be intense. So how much more daunting is the task if we are caught off guard? If we slay the dragon and turn our back, two more will rise up and try to ambush us. So stay on the hill, where Elijah was. Close to God and His purifying fire. And when the world comes calling, let God answer. Be close enough to Him so that all that gets consumed are the temptations that lay at your feet.

Charge

As we seek Him today, ask God for renewed strength in the midst of that familiar battle. Draw closer to Christ instead of swinging harder at the enemy.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words