Read 2 Kings 1.
People who do not have a personal relationship with the LORD will spiritually search when they have a need.
Ahaziah was an evil king over Israel. But as he lay dying from an accident he wanted spiritual intervention. For him, he turned to the made up god called Baal-zebub. Instead, God sent Elijah.
The lesson is in the process that brought about Elijah actually being allowed by God to go. The majority of the Jews lives in the northern kingdom of Israel. They separated from the south, then known as the kingdom of Judah. The problem was that Jerusalem with the Temple was in the south. Spiritually, the north had cut themselves off from their true center of worship. Elijah's message from God in the form of question underscored the issue.
King Ahaziah thought he would display his royal power and authority by sending troops to order Elijah to appear before him. Underneath the surface of this action was the spiritual battle. It was not the king against Elijah. It was the hubris of Ahaziah and his rebellion against the God of heaven. Unfortunately, the king's pride costs the lives of many men. Finally, the third captain understood. With great humility, he pleaded with Elijah for his life and that of his men.
There was no repentance of sin on the part of Ahaziah. In his hurt, he just wanted help from any spiritual source. Here the true spiritual help he really needed and the hope he needed for eternity was right in front of him. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18
"...'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Submit yourselves therefore to God."
James 4:6b-7a
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