Today I read 2 Kings 1, in which Elijah’s prophecy to Ahaziah was delivered by Ahaziah’s messengers and again by Elijah. Today I considered that everyone can have fear and God can protect us when we are afraid.
Protecting the Prophet and the Humble
Elijah tells Ahaziah the consequences of not turning to the God of Israel and the third captain of fifty is spared because he humbled himself (2 Kings 1: 2-17). Ahaziah fell through a lattice and became sick. He sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron if he would recover. Elijah met the messengers and told them Ahaziah would not recover because he went elsewhere instead of going to the God of Israel. Ahaziah sent a captain with fifty men to tell Elijah to come down to see him. When Elijah said if he was a man of God, God could rain down fire from heaven to consume them, God did. God also consumed the second set of fifty to come for Elijah. The third captain with fifty men knelt before Elijah and asked him to consider their lives precious. God’s angel told Elijah to not be afraid and go with the third captain. Elijah went down and told Ahaziah the prophecy in person, and the prophecy came to pass. God protected Elijah and the humble captain with his fifty men.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
God always protected Elijah from sending him to safe places to making fire rain down from heaven to consume sacrifices and those threatening Elijah. Still Elijah had fear. We can also be afraid while doing as God calls us to do. When we are acting in God’s will, God will protect us.
When was the last time you were doing something within God’s will, experienced fear, and God protected you?