No God in Israel?
"Why are you going to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether the king will get well? Is there no God in Israel?" 2 Kings 1:3
The prophetic word of God can also come as an instrument for judgement. When you get involved in idolatry, you be sure to receive the judgement of God. Yes, prophets are raised to bring deliverance to the people that will seek the way of God and at the same time judge the Godless and the hardened. When you reject the word of God, then, be ready to accept the dire consequences. We need more of genuine prophets of God that will not only bless the people, but will also whip disobedient men and women into respecting the will and word of God. Men of God that will be fearless, courageous and incorruptible. Prophets that will say it as it is. Not those that will keep back because of selfish or pecuniary interests.
It is true that Israel is God's nation, but they will always leave their creator to worship idols and foreign gods. This is just the problem that God has with them. Read their history from origin. It has been a struggle with idol worshiping and total disregard to the word of God. When they manage to serve Him for 10 years, then the next 40 year will be spent on importing or raising altars for terrible gods of the Amorites, Philistines, Egyptians or the Sodomites.
They would go to the extent of sacrificing their children (burning them) to these detestable, demonic gods of the heathen. God has done everything to correct and stop them, but they will always go back. He has used famine, drought, rebuke, war, signs, death, pestilence, covenants, exile, etc, to try to correct them, but to no avail. Like the pig, they will always go back to the swamp. Can we say that some of us are like this today?
Ahaziah son of Ahab became the king of Israel after his father's death. The bible said that he followed the ways of his parents - Ahab and Jezebel. And what was their way? They worshipped idols and also led Israel to do same. His mother Jezebel has since become a symbol of Godlessness, greed, wickedness and Satanism. This young king had an opportunity to chat a new way and serve the true God of Israel, but he blatantly chose the evil ways of his parents. One day he fell from the latticework of his palace and was seriously injured. So he sent people to the temple of the Baal-zebub; a Philistine god of flies, to ask whether he would recover from the injuries. It was on their way to that heathen temple that Prophet Elijah, directed by the angel, intercepted them and delivered the judgement of God against King Ahaziah. The message was that because he ignored God and was running after the gods of the heathen, he would die in that sickness. When, he got the unpalatable message from the man of God, he foolishly sent batches of soldiers to get Elijah. But the prophet promptly called fire from heaven to consume them. You can trust Elijah with this. When men knew their God!
Now, the shameful and untimely death of Ahaziah and the roasting of his 100 soldiers and their captains (thank God the third captain was wise) were the consequences of incurring the wrath of God through idolatry. God hates any form of worshipping, sacrificing, obedience or reverence to idols, gods, beings (human or spiritual), demons or Satan. He hates this with passion. In fact, He calls it spiritual prostitution and adultery. To show you the extent of His displeasure, the Ten Commandments started with a very stern warning to avoid any form idolatry. In fact, He (God) says that He will inflict a generational curse on any person that involves in it. Can we read it please, "Then God instructed the people as follows: 'I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt.' Do not worship any other gods besides me. 'Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! I do not leave unpunished the sins of those who hate me, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations. But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand years." Ex. 20:1- 6. Did you notice something here? Though the punishment for idolatry will be to the fourth generation, the blessings for loving God will be for a thousand years. That will be 25 generations! So make a choice now.
Today we still find people who involve in different forms of idolatry. They leave their creator to seek help from the occult world, the witch doctors, fortune-tellers, psychics and other marabouts. Some, though in the church, at the time of need go to inquire from demonic gods or false places of worship. Others belong to Ogboni, Amorc, freemasonry and other secret societies. Even some of our political and religious leaders are guilty of these. They talk about God in the day, but dine and wine with the demons in the secret. What are you looking for? Is there no God in Israel?? Why are you seeking help from the temple of Baal-zebub? Why are you inviting generational curses upon yourself and the generations after you? You can repent and return to God immediately. Compliments of the season! Till next week.
Rev Agbo is the author of the book Power of Midnight Prayer and a minister with the Assemblies of God Nigeria.Tel: 08037113283. E-mail: [email protected]