NO GOD IN ISRAEL?
Ahaziah ruled after the death of Ahab. Moab rebelled against Israel and it was a time of war. On an occasion Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper chamber and injured himself (II Kings 1:1,2). He did not know if he would get better or not. He, therefore, sent his servants to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron. The actual name of this god was Baalzebul, which means lord of life. The Hebrews changed the ending to Baalzebub, which meant lord of flies. At any rate the king wanted a message from this god.
What strange action from someone who was supposed to lead Gods people in the right direction. How many times was the idea that the God of heaven is the only true God taught to children growing up in Israel? The success of their lives was always tied to obedience to the will of God (Isaiah 1:19,20). What kind of success could one expect if they ignored the will of God? Since the god of Ekron was the lord of life, surely he could produce the answer that the king sought.
It reminds us of the situation on Mount Carmel when Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. When Baal failed to light the sacrifice, Elijah told them that maybe their god was napping, on a trip, busy with other things or just did not have time for them (I Kings 18:27). If a god who is not real and can be moved about only by those who serve him, why would you ask such a creature about matters of life and death? The life or power of such a god is granted only by those who serve him in ignorance. Followers of the true God know of His love for us and that when we ask, He does respond.
God's response may not be what we think it should be but He will respond. Yes, no or wait are possible answers to every request we make to God. For Paul and the thorn in the flesh, Gods answer was no (II Corinthians 12:8,9). Jesus, in Gethsemane, found the answer, likewise, was no (Mark 14:36). Prayer was made for Peter when he was in jail and the answer to the church was, yes. Epaphroditus received his health again, therefore, the answer was yes (Philippians 2:25-27). Trophimus, however, was left at Miletum by Paul, sick. The answer was no in his case (II Timothy 4:20).
The point for our consideration is that God always listens (Hebrews 4:15). He will always do what is best for us in the answering of our prayers. When God answered specific request during the Old Testament era, He would often use a prophet to bring the answer to the prayer. God used Isaiah to tell Hezekiah, he had 15 more years. Elijah brought Ahaziah the news he would not recover and that he would not therefore leave his bed. The issue raised by God to king Ahaziah, was why was he seeking an answer from Baalzebub. Here is the question. Is it not because there is not a God in Israel?
God does not share honor with anything else, whether it is imaginary or real. To seek an answer from someone other than God is an action against God. There is no telling how much money is spent every year in this country by those trying to find an answer for some puzzling question. In most major cities you will find those who read palms or use cards or something else to find answers for people. One television show has a man who communicates with loved ones who have passed on. People trying to deal with the guilt of the past or the fear of future events.
We have raised a generation through our public school systems which affirm that there is no God. If there is no God then where do people turn when questions arise which no pill, surgery or therapy can answer. Jesus challenged the world in which He lived to look to Him for the answers about life (John 14:6). There is a God and He is deeply interested in those who follow Him. Ahaziah treated the idea about God from the standpoint that He was a God among many gods. Under such an arrangement God ceases to be special to those who would follow Him.
How far removed are we from this attitude when we have those in the church who say that one church is just as good as another? Or like some have said in days gone by that the church is a big sick denomination. There is only one church and through that church God does not share his glory with anything which man creates out of his own mind.
Ahaziah died because he excluded God from the answers for his life. Let us not make the same foolish mistake. Our God is real and will respond to us.