IMITATE THEIR FAITH/ELIHAH - Judging Ahaziah - Continue

 Unrepentant Ahaziah demanded: "What did the man look like who came up to meet you and spoke these words to you?" The messengers answered by describing the simple garb of a prophet, and Ahaziah instantly said: "It was Elijah." (2 Kings 1:7, 8) It is worth noting that Elijah led such a simple, focused life that he could easily be identified by just a description of his rustic clothing. Surely, no such thing could be said of Ahaziah or his parents who were greedy materialists. Elijah's example reminds us today to live by Jesus' counsel to keep our life simple, our eye focused on what truly matters. - MATTHEW 6:22-24. 

Bent on vengeance, Ahaziah dispatched a contingent of 50 soldiers and their chief to arrest Elijah. When they found Elijah "sitting on the top of the mountain, the army chief brusquely ordered Elijah in the king's name to "come down"-likely meaning to be led off to execution. Imagine! Even though they knew that Elijah was a "man of the true God," those soldiers actually thought it right to bully and threaten him. How wrong they were! Elijah told the chief: "Well if I a man of God, let fire come down from the heavens and consumed him and his 50 men." God acted! "Fire came down from the heavens and consumed him and his 50 men.  - 2 KINGS 1:9, 10) The tragic end of those soldiers is a vivid reminder that Jehovah does not take it lightly when people treat his servant with contempt or disrespect. -1 CHRONICLES 16:21, 22. 

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/ELIJAH - Judging Ahaziah - Conclusion

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