Along The Way: Desiring The Ministry Of Elijah?
(Written By
Kevin A. Hall 06.20.17)
At first glance we see power on display – Elijah calls down
fire from heaven to consume two units of 50 soldiers of the Baal influenced King
Ahaziah
Then the king sent to
him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him, and behold, he
was sitting on the top of the hill. And he said to him, “O man of God, the king
says, ‘Come down.’” 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.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him
and his fifty. So he again sent to him
another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he said to him, “O man of God,
thus says the king, ‘Come down quickly.’” Elijah replied to them, “If I am a man of God,
let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire
of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty (2 Kings 1:
9-12)
Matthew Henry shares a powerful perspective on the
confrontation: "Come down quickly, and do not trifle, the king’s business
requires haste; come down, or I will fetch thee down.’’ Elijah relents not, but
calls for another flash of lightning, which instantly lays this captain and his
fifty dead upon the spot. Those that will sin like others must expect to suffer
like them; God is inflexibly just”.
A third commander
showed humility to Elijah, bowing before him, asking “Please let my life and
the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight…” (1:
13b).There is no winning when we fight against God and His servants. Effective
living begins with a right attitude toward God (Nasb). This third commander was
wise enough to respectfully approach the man of God. In this account we can learn two things: (1)
God always protects His name and His people and (2) God responds to those who
show humility.
This account in Elijah’s ministry shows the working of two
principles still relevant to every Christian: (1) “Vengeance is mine, I will
repay” (Romans 12:19b); (2) Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will
exalt you” (James 4:10). At first glance I was tempted to say “I want the power
of Elijah to punish my enemies”. But God’s show of power in both this account and the
showdown at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:36-38) was not done out of concern for
Elijah, but rather in defense of His name. He was determined to make an example
of the arrogant and the ungodly king. “God made power and resources available
to His servant to accomplish His purposes” (Nasb). Later in Jesus’ ministry,
the disciples were rebuked for wanting to call down fire from heaven to consume
Samaritans (considered enemies) who were not accommodating (Luke 9:54)
God Does Not Wish For
Anyone To Come To Harm
When the days were
approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; and He
sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the
Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. But they did not receive Him, because He
was traveling toward Jerusalem. When His disciples James and John saw this,
they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and
consume them?” But He turned and rebuked
them, and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of
Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” And they went on to
another village (Luke 9: 51-56)
Elijah’s experience was
not to be taken as a precedent.
Christians “should not expect God to use His personal power to carry out
their personal vendettas” (Nasb). He is not our Santa Claus. At the same time,
even the enemies of God may expect mercy in response to humility.
References:
The Life Application Study Bible (NASB). The United States of
America: Zondervan (2000)
Smith, J. The History of Israel. Joplin, MO: College Press
(1995)
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