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 1:9-10,
"Then he [King Ahaziah] sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, 'Man of God, the king says, "Come down!"' Elijah answered the captain, 'If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!' Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men."
The Lord had interfered with King Ahaziah's intent to inquire of an idol about his severe injury. When the king dispatched messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the Lord sent Elijah to intercept them, and return them to Ahaziah with the the question, "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?" Along with the indicting question, the Lord informed Ahaziah's messengers that he indeed would die from his injury.
At this, Ahaziah sent a detachment of soldiers to bring Elijah to explain himself. Then, what we read above in 2 Kings 1:9-10 took place. As the soldiers approached to take Elijah, Elijah simply said, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men."
Often, when we think of those identified as men or women of God, we picture those marked by meekness, dressed in lightly colored shades of pastel, a heavenly demeanor of peacefulness and tranquility. Hovering somewhere above the fray of this life, its turmoil and conflict, we envision men and women of God as those who turn the other cheek, who promote peace and harmony among mankind. That is exactly what Ahaziah's company of soldiers did not meet when they went to fetch Elijah for the king.
No doubt about it, Elijah was a man of God and the account recognizes that as Elijah predicated his curse upon the soldiers with "If I am a man of God..." Elijah was, and the soldiers were reduced to toast.
Our God promotes his gospel in this age, a gospel with a message of peace: peace between God himself and all those who will embrace him in trust through that gospel message. However, do not misunderstand who exactly our God is. Yes, he is our wonderful God of love, kindness, mercy and patience. A forgiving God who accepts all who will come to him. He is also our God of frightful justice and righteousness, bringing his punishment to bear for all sin. "I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," Jeremiah 9:24.
"Then he [King Ahaziah] sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, 'Man of God, the king says, "Come down!"' Elijah answered the captain, 'If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!' Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men."
The Lord had interfered with King Ahaziah's intent to inquire of an idol about his severe injury. When the king dispatched messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the Lord sent Elijah to intercept them, and return them to Ahaziah with the the question, "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?" Along with the indicting question, the Lord informed Ahaziah's messengers that he indeed would die from his injury.
At this, Ahaziah sent a detachment of soldiers to bring Elijah to explain himself. Then, what we read above in 2 Kings 1:9-10 took place. As the soldiers approached to take Elijah, Elijah simply said, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men."
Often, when we think of those identified as men or women of God, we picture those marked by meekness, dressed in lightly colored shades of pastel, a heavenly demeanor of peacefulness and tranquility. Hovering somewhere above the fray of this life, its turmoil and conflict, we envision men and women of God as those who turn the other cheek, who promote peace and harmony among mankind. That is exactly what Ahaziah's company of soldiers did not meet when they went to fetch Elijah for the king.
No doubt about it, Elijah was a man of God and the account recognizes that as Elijah predicated his curse upon the soldiers with "If I am a man of God..." Elijah was, and the soldiers were reduced to toast.
Our God promotes his gospel in this age, a gospel with a message of peace: peace between God himself and all those who will embrace him in trust through that gospel message. However, do not misunderstand who exactly our God is. Yes, he is our wonderful God of love, kindness, mercy and patience. A forgiving God who accepts all who will come to him. He is also our God of frightful justice and righteousness, bringing his punishment to bear for all sin. "I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," Jeremiah 9:24.
How thankful I am that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for all my sins! All of yours as well! All he asks of any of us is to place our trust in him in order to have his payment for our sins credited to our account in God's court.
Coming across a man of God is not always an encounter of peace and tranquility. Just ask Ahaziah's soldiers!
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.
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.
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