2 Kings 1:1-5: a reflection

1Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. 2Ahaziah fell down through the lattice in his upper room that was in Samaria, and was sick. So he sent messengers, and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this sickness.” 3But the LORD’s angel said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and tell them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you go to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron? 4Now therefore the LORD says, “You will not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you will surely die.”’” Then Elijah departed. 5The messengers returned to him, and he said to them, “Why is it that you have returned?”

When King Ahaziah is badly injured, he sends messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, a foreign god, whether he will recover. And God's word to Elijah exposes the folly of it: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you go to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Ahaziah, needing help and answers, turned to a false source, as though there were no God in Israel to whom he could turn. The rebuke lays bare his folly: the true God was there, available, and yet the king sought help from a false god instead. He turned to a false source when the true God was there to be sought.

Notice the folly the rebuke exposes: seeking help from a false source when the true God is there. Ahaziah needed help, and there was help to be had; the God of Israel was there, ready to be inquired of. But the king turned instead to a foreign god, a false source, as though the true God did not exist or could not be reached. It was not that no help was available; it was that he sought it in the wrong place, from a false source, bypassing the true God who was there. Is it because there is no God in Israel? The question exposes the folly of seeking help anywhere but from the God who is present and able to help.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can seek help and answers from false sources when the true God is there to be sought. When we need help, guidance, or answers, we can turn to false sources, to substitutes for God, to the world's counsel or its counterfeits, as though there were no God to whom we could turn, as Ahaziah sought Baal-zebub. But the true God is there, available, ready to be sought. Do not turn to false sources for help and answers as though there were no God to seek; the true God is there, and it is folly to bypass him for a substitute. Seek your help and answers from the true God who is there and able, rather than turning to false sources as though he did not exist, as Ahaziah wrongly sought Baal-zebub when the God of Israel was there to be inquired of; for the true God is present and ready to be sought, and it is folly to seek help anywhere but from him.

Lord, when King Ahaziah is badly injured, he sends messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, a foreign god, whether he will recover. And your word to Elijah exposes the folly of it: is it because there is no God in Israel that you go to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Ahaziah, needing help and answers, turned to a false source, as though there were no God in Israel to whom he could turn. The rebuke lays bare his folly: you, the true God, were there, available, and yet the king sought help from a false god instead. Show me the folly the rebuke exposes: seeking help from a false source when you, the true God, are there. Ahaziah needed help, and there was help to be had; you were there, ready to be inquired of. But the king turned instead to a foreign god, as though you did not exist or could not be reached. It was not that no help was available; it was that he sought it in the wrong place, bypassing you. Take that to my heart, for I too can seek help and answers from false sources when you, the true God, are there to be sought. When I need help, guidance, or answers, I can turn to false sources, to substitutes for you, to the world's counsel or its counterfeits, as though there were no God to whom I could turn, as Ahaziah sought Baal-zebub. But you are there, available, ready to be sought. Keep me from turning to false sources for help and answers as though there were no God to seek; you are there, Lord. Help me seek my help and answers from you, the true God who is there and able, rather than turning to false sources as though you did not exist.