Don't Ask for Help from Satan's People.

Ahaziah, a king of Israel, fell out of a window and was injured. He wanted to know if he was going to live or die. He sent messengers to the worshipers of Baal to learn the future. Baal worship was evil; the people burned their children to him.

"And Elijah said to the king, "This is what the LORD says: Why did you send messengers to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Is there no God in Israel to answer your question? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die." 2 Kings 1:16

The king did die. The Bible teaches us never to go to a seer, a witch, or a medium to find out the future.

And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?  Isaiah 8:19

The future is in God's hands. It isn't good for us to wonder about the future; just live one day at a time as you follow Jesus.

Jesus said, "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.  Matthew 6:34

Will You Be Offended?

When Jesus gave a sermon in his home town of Nazareth, he preached about faith. Faith that is in other nations and religions than their own. Faith that God gives to all.

Jesus said, "There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land. Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow." Luke 4:25-26

God sent Elijah to be fed during the famine to a pagan city and to a certain widow. God knew she had the faith needed to help Elijah. Even though she only had enough food for herself and her son, she fed Elijah first. Because she did this, she was given food by God all during the famine. 1Kings 17

I think Jesus was trying to tell the people that there are other people who believe in God even though they don't belong to their particular religion. They needed to understand they weren't the only ones being saved.

"There were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian."  Luke 4:27

Why was Naaman, a pagan, cleansed? He had enough faith to first go to Elisha and then to do what Elisha told him to do. He decided to let go of his pride and dip in the Jordan River seven times. After he was healed, he worshiped the God of Israel. But there is an interesting detail in this story. Naaman asked Elisha if God would pardon him for going into the pagan temple once a year with the king of his country and bowing down to the idol. It was part of his duty to do this. Elisha told him yes, he could do that and it would be alright. I wonder what a pastor would say today to what Naaman asked?  2 Kings 5

The people of Nazareth were so angry that Jesus would say pagans were deserving of God's blessings they grabbed him and took him to the edge of a cliff intending to push him over. But Jesus disappeared while he was in the middle of the crowd. God would not let Jesus die that day, he had more work for him to do.

"God has given to each man a measure of faith." Romans 12:3 We do not know the faith that others have towards God, that is why we are never to judge anyone no matter what religion they belong to.

The Question for Elijah.

Elijah was a mighty prophet of God, one of the greatest who ever lived. Yet, even he could become discouraged and fearful. When Jezebel announced she would have Elijah killed he ran into the desert to hide. He ran until he became hungry and tired; he sat under a tree and asked God that he might die, then fell asleep.

God sent an angel who woke Elijah and said, "Arise, eat." When Elijah looked there was warm bread and a jar of water. This happened twice, he regained his strength and went further into the wilderness until he found a cave in which to hide.

Now God himself appeared and asked Elijah a question, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Elijah explained to God all that had happened and told God he was the only person left in Israel who believed in him and they wanted to kill him. But God told him he was wrong, there were 7,000 people in Israel who had not worshipped Baal (an idol that demanded human sacrifice).

He then asked again, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He asked this because he had not sent Elijah into the desert. He had not told him to flee Jezebel. He now told him to return to Israel and Elijah obeyed.

I love how God deals with his people. He is so patient and understanding. "May everything that breathes praise the Lord!"