Today’s passage: 2 Kings 1:1-18
Helpful thoughts:
- To give an update on the spiritual condition of the kings of Israel, when Ahaziah (King Ahab’s son) falls and gets injured, his first thought is to inquire of the Lord of the Flies (Baal-Zebub).
- Baal-Zebub would not be answering Ahaziah, because he doesn’t exist. Yahweh, however, knew exactly what was going on.
- Ahaziah sent over a hundred men who died and was willing to see more die in order to hear directly from Elijah. When he did hear directly from Elijah, he just got the same message.
- The word of the Lord is the word of the Lord, whether you hear it directly from Jesus face to face or read it in an English translation in the 21st century.
- You read God’s word today! Way to go!
- Jehoram was Ahaziah’s brother, the next in line to the throne.
Questions to consider:
- In what way was God’s response to Ahaziah appropriate, or even merciful? (Exodus 22:20) How did this king use his leadership to bring even more sin to God’s chosen people?
- Even though Elijah had been used by God to bring judgment on these servants who had rejected Him, what did God still say to Elijah to reassure him (Verse 15)? Why might Elijah have been afraid to go with them? What things can we fear when interacting with other who we know do not follow Christ? What truths about our Lord and who He has called us to be can take away our fears?
- Considering the fact that Ahaziah was more interested in hearing from Baal-Zebub first, what did he really want to hear from Elijah? Would he have truly wanted to hear from the Lord or would he have wanted to keep trying until he changed the Lord’s word? How could this desire be a possible motivator for people today who want to hear from God, when He has given us His sufficient word (2 Timothy 3:16-17)? How could this desire for a new word become a troublesome temptation?