Don’t trifle with a God who “makes His messengers winds and His servants flames of fire” (Ps 104:4, WEB).
Back so soon? the king wondered aloud. There wasn’t nearly enough time for his messengers to make the round trip to Ekron in Philistia. No, they responded. The trip had been aborted. “A man came up to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you, and say to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore…you shall surely die’”’” (2 Ki 1:6). Describe this man, demanded the king. “A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist” (v 8). Elijah! Bring him here! “Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men.…and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill.” “Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down!’” barked the captain (v 9). Please understand; this was no gracious invitation for afternoon tea. Obviously a show of strength, there was an outstanding arrest warrant for Elijah since he’d been the nemesis of Ahaziah’s parents, Ahab and Jezebel. From the beginning, the prophet had been the Lord’s free man, responding only to His commands. He wasn’t about to change now. “If I am a man of God,” replied Elijah, “then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men” (v 10). And it did! When the king heard, in blind rage he repeated the fool’s errand twice more! But the third time, the captain pled for mercy, and received it. The lesson is solemn. As in Elijah’s ministry, so in Christ’s. The first time, the fire fell on the Sacrifice, but for those who reject God’s mercy, the fire will fall on them, “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess 1:7-8).