A Humble Life

Read 2 Kings 1, 22:29-40, 2 Chronicles 19-20
 
2 Kings 1:13-17 Once more the king sent a third captain with fifty men. But this time the captain went up the hill and fell to his knees before Elijah. He pleaded with him, “O man of God, please spare my life and the lives of these, your fifty servants. 14 See how the fire from heaven came down and destroyed the first two groups. But now please spare my life!” 15 Then the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him, and don’t be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went with him to the king. 16 And Elijah said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: Why did you send messengers to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Is there no God in Israel to answer your question? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.” 17 So Ahaziah died, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.
 
ISRAEL’S new king Ahaziah continued his father Ahab’s idolatry. When injured, he sought healing from the pagan idol Bael-zebub – the fly god. How could people worship the “Lord of the Flies” while rejecting the LORD God Almighty?   
   A third captain of 50 men pleaded to Elijah for his life because the LORD had consumed two other captains and their 50 men in fiery judgment. (He used fire to judge at other times, didn’t he?) The LORD permitted Elijah to go with this captain. Why was the third captain spared?
   Faithful humility is the key. The first two captains demanded Elijah go with them. This third captain learned from what he saw. He became appropriately fearful of being too brash and demanding before God’s prophet. Remember, “Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.” (Proverbs 15:33) Then he humbly and wisely requested: “Please spare my life and the lives of these, your fifty servants.” This is the captain’s confession of the LORD’s power to either save him or condemn him.
   Each moment of our lives we approach the power of the living God with unbelief, demands or humility. God’s power is continually present all around us. We must understand each breath is at his mercy. Be humble, then, before God. Fear God. Demonstrate your heart is prepared to hear him. Act to obey his instructions.
          The captain, his 50 men, Ahaziah and even Elijah learned something about God that day. Sadly, Ahaziah learned Idolatry leads to death. The captain understood a humble heart leads you to knowing God’s grace. Elijah would have learned once more of God’s power to protect and uplift his prophet. Fear God, and you don’t have to fear man.