The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Kings 1:3,
"Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?"
"Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?"
This is the message the Lord gave Elijah to pass on to King Ahaziah of the northern kingdom of Israel. Ahaziah had fallen through a lattice of his upper room and was apparently severely injured. He sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, a false god of idol worship, to see if he would recover. The Lord intervened and sent the messengers back to Ahaziah with the above message.
The essence of idolatry is a rejection, an abandonment of God. When rebellious people go their own way, they find something else to replace him. Here is a list of things our God is that folks today have replaced him with in our nation, in our thinking, in our rebellion:
God: Jehovah - the One we should bow to and worship.
Our rebellious nation: the state. All are to subordinate themselves to the interests of the state.
God: Jehovah-M'Kaddesh - the God who sanctifies - he makes us right.
Our rebellious nation: political correctness - the elites of our day dictate what it is we are to think, say and do to be appropriate. We don't need God to make us right anymore (as we "evolve" on gay marriage, etc.)
God: Jehovah-jireh - the God who provides.
Our rebellious nation: the "social safety net". The state will provide all anyone needs- food stamps, welfare, socialism, etc.We don't need God to provide for us any longer.
God: Jehovah-rophe - the God who heals.
Our rebellious nation: Obamacare. The state will take care of all of our health needs.
God: El-Shaddai - the Almighty One.
Our rebellious nation: political power. We actually grant others power in our lives and accept the dictates of those who assume that power.
God: Elohim - strength or power.
Our rebellious nation: "It takes a village". Strength in the rent-a-mobs, strength in numbers, strength in political connectedness.
God: Creator and Sustainer of the cosmos.
Our rebellious naiton: We will control and maintain the environment in which we live. We will control the alleged "man-made climate change." We will lower the oceans and control the weather.
God: the Giver of life - only he gives life.
Our rebellious nation: abortion. We will decide who gets to live and who doesn't.
God: Designer of mankind, creating them male and female.
Our rebellious nation: LGBTQ. We will decide if we are male or female through our behavior, through surgery, etc.
God: Jehovah Sabaoth - God rules in power and brings that power to bear to effectuate what is necessary.
Our rebellious nation: The United Nations. This super-body of godless power brokers is looked to, to maintain control over the nations.
Unfortunately, King Ahaziah and his godless ilk have nothing on our nation today when it comes to idolatry. We have turned our backs on God as a nation and idolatry has come full bloom!
How did that work out for Ahaziah? How did that work out for Israel? How will that work out for us?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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