Virginia, There is a God

"Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult that you…" (2 Kings 1:16, NIV).

Ahab is dead and Ahaziah is king. He had suffered a bad fall and, concerned about his health, sends messengers to ask Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, if he is going to recover.

We don't have to use much imagination to know something about this god that Ahaziah chose to consult. Baal-Zebub is "a Semitic deity that was worshiped in the Philistine city of Ekron. In later Christian and Biblical sources, he is referred to as another name for Satan, and in demonology, is one of the seven princes of Hell."

Before the messengers get to their destination they are met by God's prophet, Elijah, who asks the critical question. Elijah also delivers the answer to Ahaziah's question. The king's death is imminent.

I got stuck on Elijah's question because, with all the resources we have at hand today, it is easy to consult other "gods" before we consult the Lord.

I read recently that many pastors get their sermons online, consulting the god of Google to discover the Word of the Lord for their congregations.

We do our devotions from other people's notes. We get our theology from other people's research. We seek wisdom from fallible men and understanding from those who are still trying to gain it themselves.

And the question remains: Is it because there is no God in heaven, or in our hearts, for us to consult that we look for 'broken cisterns'  (Jeremiah 2:13) from which to draw the water of life to refresh our souls?

A good point to think about and a good cautionary note to take to heart, because there IS a God in heaven.

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