LEADERSHIP LIFE LESSONS ~ LET GOD BE GOD!

2 Kings Chapter 1 

LEADERSHIP LIFE LESSONS ~ LET GOD BE GOD!

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"Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, "Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury."

AHAZIAH'S ALTERNATIVE
In verse 2 we read of a grievous accident that befalls Ahaziah. He has fallen through the lattice at the palace. Either he had broken through a skylight, or some kind of ceiling material. But one thing is clear: he fears he is dying of these wounds. 

He then sends messengers on his behalf to seek out the god of Ekron, named Baalzebub because he wanted to know whether or not he would recover from the injuries. Herein we see a major problem for Ahaziah, and the first attitude that God will never accept.

There is no doubt that Ahaziah knows about the true God of Israel. He had certainly heard the stories told by both his father and mother of Elijah and “his God.” In I Kings 21 we can read the tender story of Ahab’s deep repentance after being warned by Elijah regarding a bleak future for the king and queen. Ahab had heard about and then witnessed the fulfillment of the prophecy of Elijah in I Kings 17:1 concerning a three-year drought that would come to Israel. And most of all, he had personally been witness to the mighty miracle of God’s fire descending from heaven to consume the sacrifice of Elijah on Mount Carmel. Yes, Ahab knew Elijah and he was well acquainted with Elijah’s God; and yes, he had certainly shared his troubles with the prophet to his son, Ahaziah. They both knew that there was a God in Israel, but neither acted on this truth.

While Ahaziah’s messengers are starting their journey to Ekron, Elijah finds them and interrupts their journey with his own message back to the king: “Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?” To know that God is real, that He is powerful and merciful, and yet not allowing Him the freedom to act in His power and mercy in and through our lives is an attitude that is simply unacceptable to Him.

Real leaders have already acknowledged that the Lord is supreme in their lives. But acting on this knowledge is another thing. We are very self-sufficient people. Leaders are those that are ahead of the pack, a bit different from the rest. Leaders are people that have already recognized some of their gifts and talents for the work of spiritual ministry. In other words, they know beyond a doubt that there is a God “in Israel.” But do we allow Him total freedom to act as He wants? 

While it is true that Jesus expects us to find solutions for many of life’s problems simply through our knowledge and experience with Him, He also knows that we must seek Him at all times in all things to ensure that His will is done in our lives. 

In other words, we may not always spend three days in prayer and fasting to find an answer to a simple question, and in fact may be able to quickly discern the necessary action in some situations. But there are also times when we must be ready and willing to seek His will without compromise. We need to know and submit to the God that is in our midst. That is what leaders do—that is who leaders are. 

Ahaziah failed in this. He was too used to the family tradition of looking for the so-called power of Baal. He had learned to lean on a different strength than God’s.

So, how do we act in times of need?
Whom do we seek in a crisis?
Where does our hope and strength lie?
We speak of our Lord Jesus as the Almighty One, but do we allow Him to be the God of our lives?
Anything else will always be unacceptable to such a loving and able Saviour.

~Life Lessons For Leaders II Kings