Good afternoon, everyone!
Today I read 2 Kings 1-3.
In today's reading, King Ahaziah fell from his upper chamber and hurt himself. He sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron if he would get well.
God sent Elijah to meet the messengers, chastise the king, and tell him that because of his rebellion against God, he would not get well, but die.
The king did not like Elijah's message and sent soldiers to get him. Three times.
Now, here's why he sent them three times.
The first group of soldiers demanded that Elijah come out in the name of the king.
2 Kings 1:10 - Elijah replied to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.
And it did.
Another group of fifty soldiers was sent. And they summoned Elijah in the same disrespectful manner.
Elijah had the same reply, and they too, were consumed by fire.
The next group had a wiser captain. He entreated Elijah to spare their lives, acknowledged what God had done to the other soldiers. He did not command Elijah to come with them. So, God told him to go with them. God's message for King Ahaziah was the same, and he died.
Remember to always be respectful to God's prophets.
Now comes the really interesting bit.
Elijah and Elisha were traveling together, as far as the Jordan. When they arrived, they wanted to cross.
2 Kings 2:8-11 Elijah took his mantle and folded it together and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." He said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.
That's awesome! Elijah didn't die. God just took him up to heaven. And then Elisha became God's prophet, and a double portion of Elijah's spirit was upon him, because God allowed him to see Elijah taken up.
And people came to Elisha to inquire of him as the prophet of God. And God performed miracles through him just as he had Elijah.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow as I read 2 Kings 4-5.
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