Journey Thru The Bible! (2 Kings 1-3)

Click on the above Scripture to read today's Bible text!

The book of 2 Kings begins with the transition of power and influence from one dynamic prophet (Elijah) to another (Elisha). Both of these men are great examples of just ordinary guys who are very unordinary in their relationship with God. They are men who have such an intimate relationship with God that they not only hear Him often speaking to them about people and events, but God is often accomplishing mighty feats and miracles through their lives.

Here are a few lessons we can learn from today's text...

1) God protects His own! Elijah offended the King of Israel when he condemned him for seeking a prophetic word from the prophets of Baal about his life-threatening injury. Elijah reminded the King that God is still over the nation of Israel. Being offended by that, King Ahaziah sent two groups of soldiers (50 each) to arrest Elijah and bring him back to the palace. When the first group's captain shouted to Elijah, "Man of God, the King has commanded you to come down with us", Elijah simply replied, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men." And, it happened - the fire fell and consumed them immediately! This same event happened to the second group of fifty soldiers.

However, the captain of the third group had a different attitude! He realized God's protection concerning Elijah and begged for protection. Within the hour, God told Elijah to go with the soldiers and was able to personally confront the king about seeking the advice of false prophets and the help of a false god.

Although Elijah showed a great deal of courage and confidence in God's protection, you have to keep in mind that this event was AFTER he ran to Mount Sinai for fear of his life when Queen Jezebel pronounced a death sentence upon him. Elijah lost sense of God's protection for a moment. The desert experience reminded him of God's power and protection.

What about you? Are you afraid of something? If so, go to God in prayer about it and ask Him to give you the confidence you need to place your trust in His protective Hand!

2) Elijah is taken by a IFO! I'm sure you're taking a double take on this statement! I had watched the History channel the other day on the subject of UFO's. They erroneously reported some of the events - such as Elijah's rapture into Heaven - as being the event of a UFO encounter. I had to laugh! In reality, it was an IFO - an "Identified Flying Object." There was an eye witness - Elisha! Besides the fact that two prophet groups had already received a message from the Lord that "the Lord is going to take your master away from you today," Elisha saw cleary what the object was! In 2:11-12, he calls out and sees "a chariot of fire...drawn by horses of fire." He also saw charioteers (men driving the chariots).

If it were anything else, Elisha would have described it differently! He knows what a horse looks like! He also knows what a chariot and a charioteer looks like! He doesn't call it a flying round thing or an object with lights. He describes horses, chariots, and charioteers who are aflamed with fire. All of these things are clearly seen and described by him, and they follow suit with descriptions in other passages as well.

Why was Elijah taken before his death? Probably for the same reason as Enoch - he walked with God! The relationship between God and Elijah was so sweet that God simply took him.

I know a man who I believe God did the same thing with some 20 years ago! He was a man who walked with God and bathed himself in prayer every day. He was only about 35 years of age when God took him. But, everyone who knew him (thousands of people) believed that God was so endeared to this man that he simply took him home!

3) No one can do any miracle without God doing it Himself! When Elijah left, God allowed a double portion of the Spirit to rest upon Elisha. Immediately, those who watched Elisha's ministry confirmed that fact. Elisha performed one mighty miracle and supernatural feat after another! But, in spite of that, we all need to realize that there was nothing Elisha did to deserve the ministry he was given. God simply chose to give it to him. God orchestrates everything in Heaven and chooses to give ALL OF US a task different from each other. While we may possess the same gifts as someone who is used mightily, it doesn NOT mean that God loves us less or values us less. He simply has a different path for us to follow and a different task for us to undertake. The key is to be faithful in what He has CALLED YOU TO DO!

Have a wonderful day in the Lord!