When Ahab died, Ahaziah became king. Ahaziah “did what was evil in the Lord’s sight… He served Baal and bowed in worship to him. He angered the Lord God of Israel just as his father had done” (1 Kings 22:52–53).
In the course of time, Ahaziah was injured, he sent his servant to the pagan temple in Ekron to ask if he would recover. As the servants travelled toward Ekron, Jehovah sent Elijah to intercept them. God’s message: “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore, this is what the Lord says: You will not get up from your sickbed; you will certainly die” (2 Kings 1:3). No ifs, ands, or buts… “you are going to die!”
So, King Ahaziah sent a commander and his fifty men to arrest Elijah. When they arrived,
“Elijah responded to the captain, ‘If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.’ Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men” (2 Kings 1:10). Fire had fallen from Heaven to consume the sacrifice on Mount Carmel, but this time the fire of God’s fierce judgment consumed all fifty-one soldiers. Poof!
A second time, King Ahaziah sent a commander and his fifty men. And again, “Elijah responded, ‘If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.’ So a divine fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men” (2 Kings 1:12). If you’re counting, that one-hundred two men… up in smoke!
Again, a third time, evil King Ahaziah sent a commander and his fifty men. This time, the commander humbly begged Elijah for mercy. “Man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious to you. Already fire has come down from heaven and consumed the first two captains with their companies, but this time let my life be precious to you” (2 Kings 1:13-14).
Obedient to God’s command, Elijah travelled to the King’s palace. Standing at the King’s bedside, Elijah boldly announced: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron … you will not get up from your sickbed; you will certainly die’ ” (2 Kings 1:16).
Guess what happened next. “Ahaziah died” (2 Kings 1:17).
“… think on these things”(Philippians 4:8, KJV).
