2 Kings 1-2, 2 Corinthians 10
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. – 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 ESV
As believers, we sometimes fail to recognize the power of God in and around our lives. We read stories in the Bible that tell of His greatness and illustrate His mighty power, but they seem so distant and foreign to our everyday life experiences. But our God is the same God that Elijah worshiped. He is just as powerful today as He was then. He is just as able to perform miraculous acts now as He did in the days of the prophets. When we read of fire coming down from heaven and consuming the 50 men who had been sent by King Ahaziah to retrieve Elijah, we are amazed, and perhaps a bit suspicious of the story's validity. Two different times, God's power was displayed through His destruction of the king's emissaries, who were opposed to the work of Elijah and meant him harm. But God was not going to let a godless king bring harm to His prophet. Yet, do we believe that same God is alive and well today? Do we truly believe that His power is available to us in our lives today?
What does this passage reveal about God?
God does not change. There is no difference between the God of the Old Testament and the one we see on display in the New Testament. He is the same God. He is no less powerful, no less opposed to sin and the rebellion of His people, and no less capable of performing might acts on behalf of those who love Him and remain faithful to His cause. The first two chapters of 2 Kings remind us that God is greater than any false gods. King Ahaziah may have wanted to seek the counsel of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, but God was not going to let him succeed. God sent him word through His prophet, Elijah, that King Ahaziah would not be hearing from a false god and would not recover from his illness. We also see that God was greater than any army or potential enemy that stood against His will or opposed to His prophet. He destroyed over 100 men who had been sent by the godless king to bring harm to His prophet. But we also see that God is greater than His own prophet. There came a time when Elijah was removed from service. He had done what God had called him to do and God determined it was time for him to come home. He was replaced with Elisha, the prophet's understudy. God chooses to use us as men, but He is not obligated to do so and is certainly not required to do so. He does not need us to accomplish His will, but graciously chooses include us in His divine will. But we should never assume that we are necessary or indispensable to God's plans.
What does this passage reveal about man?
It is so easy for us to assume that we are essential to God's work. But we must never forget that God is greater than we are. His power is essential to us doing what He has called us to do. Without His help, we are hopeless and powerless to accomplish anything of worth or value. Paul tells us that while we us live our lives in the flesh, in these mortal, weak bodies, we must constantly remind ourselves that what we accomplish in this life cannot be done in the flesh. “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4 ESV). We have a power available to us that is way beyond our capabilities. It is the same power that showed up as fire from heaven for Elijah. It is the same power that allowed both Elijah and Elisha to part the waters of the Jordan River and walk across on dry ground. It is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead – “the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you” (Romans 8:11 ESV). With that power, we are able “to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NLT). We have a power available to us that is beyond this world. It is greater than any man, false god, human plan, godless teaching, or strategy of Satan himself. With it, we can accomplish mighty works on God's behalf. We can display His power among those with whom we live, work, and interact. But if we fail to believe in His power, we will fail to witness it's presence in our lives. We will fail to recognize it when it is happening all around us. We will fail to acknowledge our need for it.
How would I apply what I’ve read to my own life?
The reality of the power of God is not up for debate. We can doubt it, ignore it, and even fail to avail ourselves of it, but that in no way diminishes it. God is as great today as He was in the days of Elijah. He is just as active today as He was then. He wants to reveal His power through our lives and encourage us as we experience His might revealed in real-life situations and impossible scenarios in which we find ourselves out-manned, ill-equipped, and powerless to do anything about it. We live in a world that desperately needs to see the power of God revealed in the lives of men. I want to be one of those men. I want God to reveal His power through me, so that the world may believe He truly exists and is greater than anything or anyone else they may be tempted to turn to for help.
Father, thank You for reminding me of Your power. Thank You for so graciously revealing Your power in my life so many times. I know there are many times I have failed to see it and recognize it. There are other times I have failed to thank You for it. But I am grateful, and I want to see Your power on display more and more in and around my life. Amen