King Ahaziah of Israel fell off the balcony on the roof of his palace in Samaria and was seriously injured. So he sent some messengers to consult Baalzebub, the god of the Philistine city of Ekron, in order to find out whether or not he would recover. But an angel of the Lord commanded Elijah, the prophet from Tishbe, to go and meet the messengers of King Ahaziah and ask them, “Why are you going to consult Baalzebub, the god of Ekron? Is it because you think there is no god in Israel? Tell the king that the Lord says, ‘You will not recover from your injuries; you will die!’”
Why seek a consultation if it wasn’t followed up with an intervention? And how did Elijah know it was an angel (Hebrews 13:2)?
…the king… sent an officer with fifty men to get Elijah. The officer found him sitting on a hill and said to him, “Man of God, the king orders you to come down.”
“If I am a man of God,” Elijah answered, “may fire come down from heaven and kill you and your men!” At once fire came down and killed the officer and his men.
Human power and authority facing off against divine power and authority. James and John were clearly inspired by this event (Luke 9:54) but this is not the model to follow (Isaiah 42:1-4).
Once more the king sent an officer with fifty men. He went up the hill, fell on his knees in front of Elijah, and pleaded, “Man of God, be merciful to me and my men. Spare our lives! The two other officers and their men were killed by fire from heaven; but please be merciful to me!”
A fearful respect for divine power and authority as reflected in the city leaders coming out to greet Samuel (1 Samuel 16:4). The opposite? Jeremiah 36:18-24.
…Elisha answered, “I swear by my loyalty to the living Lord and to you that I will not leave you.”
Ruth 1:16-17. May that ever be my response to you, Lord Jesus.
A group of prophets who lived there went to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master away from you today?”
“Yes, I know,” Elisha answered. “But let’s not talk about it.”
How did the know?
Elijah and Elisha stopped by the river, and the fifty prophets stood a short distance away.
Again, fear and respect (Acts 5:12-13).