Friday, April 13, 2012

Day 103: 2 Kings 1, 2 and 3


Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? (2 Kings 1:3)

There was a history of antagonism between Elijah and Ahab, and that history continued with Ahab's son Ahaziah. When Ahaziah was injured, he probably expected a less than favorable answer from Elijah, so he preempted that diagnosis and went straight for a second opinion. He sent his envoys to the Philistine city of Ekron, to inquire of the god Baal – not the best way to get on Yahweh's good side (or Elijah’s for that matter).

It’s kind of like a kid playing one parent against the other until she gets the answer she wants. Or a hypochondriac doctor shopping until he finds one who will give him the diagnosis he’s looking for. Or maybe more like someone who doesn’t like the news from CNN and goes with FOX instead.

But Elijah knew exactly what Ahaziah was up to and wasn’t about to let him go unchallenged.

No extra charge: Did you notice the full name of the false god in verse 3? Baal-Zebub (Lord of the flies). By the time of Jesus’ ministry the name would evolve to Beelzebub and be synonymous with Satan (Matthew 12:22-28). Our enemy is more than happy to give us the answer we're looking for – but it won’t be the truth.

If you don’t like God’s answer, do you sidestep him and shop around for an answer more to your liking?

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