CHRIST IN ELIJAH – FIRE FROM HEAVEN
Suggested Reading: 2 Kings chapter 1 verses 1-16
King Ahab’s death brought about no improvements in Israel, because his equally rebellious son, Ahaziah, succeeded him. In spite of all that he must have experienced and witnessed during the reign of his father, he did evil in the sight of the Lord; indeed, he served Baal and worshipped him. He provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger, just as his father had done, 1 Kings chapter 22 verses 52-53!
Ahaziah knew who Elijah was and would have learned from his parents what he stood for; however, it had made very little impact on him. Even in his hour of deepest need, he sent to enquire of Baalzebub, the false god of Ekron whether he would recover from the sickness that had afflicted him. God intervened through Elijah, but Ahaziah’s immediate response was to intimidate Elijah. However, he had failed to reckon with a God of judgment.
On this occasion there was no sacrifice upon which the judgment could fall; therefore, the fire consumed two of the captains and their men. The third captain displayed a different spirit. He cast himself on the mercy of Elijah and was spared!
In the New Testament, James and John, two of His disciples, joined Jesus on a journey to Jerusalem, Luke chapter 9 verses 51-56. They came across a Samaritan village on the way that refused to receive Him. The two disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven to consume them, just as Elijah did?’ Far from supporting their suggestion, Jesus rebuked them: ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them’. They failed to see the difference between the deep depravity of Ahaziah, who had had every opportunity to turn to a better way, and the Samaritans in this village, who were acting out of a long history of prejudice.
Indeed, later on many of the Samaritans responded positively to the message of the gospel and became Christians in the days of the early church. They were living proof that God’s grace can break down the strongest barriers and save the most unlikely people!