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
little girl 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 three? 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.
TODAY’S MEDITATION
How do you handle bad news?
If you don’t like God’s answer, do you sidestep him and shop around for an
answer more to your liking? How would life look different if you submitted to his
truth?
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