SCRIPTURE
"Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, 'Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness.'But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, 'Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?'" (2 Kings 1:2-3)
OBSERVATION
Ahaziah had fallen and couldn't get up. He sent his messengers to a pagan god to find out whether or not he would recover. The bible makes it clear that pagan gods are no gods at all. They have no capacity to hear, move, or act. Yet, Ahaziah, knowing full well about the God who does hear, move, and act, sends his messengers to Baal.
God is tried and true. However, we tend to look for new and novel approaches to spirituality. Whether it's Oprah's spiritual smorgasbord or improving our self-talk, we tend to run after the gods of this world. Elijah's response to Ahaziah was basically, "Think about what you're doing? There is a God in Israel-the Lord. You don't need to go after Baal."
God did prove himself. Ahaziah sent messengers to Elijah three times. Two out of the three times fire fell from heaven and consumed the captains with there 50 men. You'd think Ahaziah would've caught on the first time. Amaziah did not recover from his injuries eventually dying. You have to wonder how things would've turned out different if he went right to the Lord the first time.
APPLICATION
I think one of the reasons it's tempting to run after other "gods" is because they seem to offer quick fixes and promise to deliver exactly what I want. However, God, the true God, is on his own timetable and he does things in his own way. I have to give up control of my life to seek him. The "gods" with a little "g" can be manipulated and give me the answer I'm looking for. God doesn't kowtow to my preferences. Frankly, I don't like that sometimes. But, that's what growing in faith and trust is all about. There is a God in the land and I need to seek him only.
PRAYER
Lord, you are in the land. I seek your wisdom and your word for direction in my life.
