Having lived away from where I grew up for over twenty years now, I can easily forget how much I still have mannerisms and other things that were modeled for me by my parents.
When my father passed in 2024, a friend remarked about the picture of my dad used for his obituary that she could see him in me by the way I held my head. Previous pictures she’d seen of him had failed to reveal that to her. I never noticed this detail until she pointed it out.
What I notice the most when I’m with my mom is how much my sense of humor and laughter is like hers. And we both enjoy good Bible study discussions.
Besides my parents, there are others who have influenced me over the years. Various teachers, friends, and colleagues come to my mind.
What does this have to do with learning about God through Ahaziah and Elijah?
Keep reading.
Learning about God through Ahaziah and Elijah | Part One
A Study of 1 Kings 22:51-2 Kings 1:18
The book of 1 Kings ends with an introduction about Ahaziah’s time as king of Israel.
Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel.[1]
What stands out about Ahaziah from the verse above?
He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.[2]
Describe Ahaziah’s parents using 1 Kings 21:25-26.
Read 1 Kings 14:4-9 and then answer the following questions.
What had God done for Jeroboam?
How did Jeroboam fail to honor God?
He served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger in every way that his father had done. [3]
Write out Deuteronomy 5:6-10 on a notecard or in a journal. Consider memorizing these verses.
Based on the passage studied and Deuteronomy 5:6-10, what is most important to the God of Israel?
After a brief mention that Moab rebelled against Israel after Ahab died, the book of 2 Kings continues describing Ahaziah’s brief reign as king of Israel.
Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness.” [4]
Explain why Ahaziah didn’t inquire of the Lord of Israel about his chances of recovery.
But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? 4 Now therefore thus says the Lord, You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” So Elijah went. [5]
Elijah the Tishbite was a prophetic witness of the Lord of Israel’s power to Ahaziah’s parents and the nation of Israel in dramatic fashion. (See 1 Kings 17:1-18:40 for greater detail)
What point is God making by directing Elijah the Tishbite to speak to Ahaziah’s messengers?
The messengers returned to the king, and he said to them, “Why have you returned?” 6 And they said to him, “There came a man to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go back to the king who sent you, and say to him, Thus says the Lord, Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ”[6]
Ahaziah expresses surprise at how quickly his messengers have returned. They report to him what Elijah the Tishbite had instructed them to say.
Why did the messengers obey Elijah’s instructions rather than continuing the task Ahaziah assigned them? What does this reveal about their knowledge of who Elijah was?
He said to them, “What kind of man was he who came to meet you and told you these things?” 8 They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.” [7]
Given the public nature of Elijah’s background, why did the messengers let Ahaziah figure out on his own that the messenger was Elijah?
Learning about God through Ahaziah and Elijah | Application
How are you like those who raised you?
How are you different from those who raised you?
How did others influence you as you grew or influence you now?
How has God used your experiences with those who influenced you to teach you about Himself?
Some memories of my earthly father and how I learned about God through him include:
- 1. Seeing my father consistently place an offering envelope into the offering plate during Sunday worship services. This taught me to seek God first in my financial decisions, even though my father never discussed it with me.
- 2. Glimpsing handwritten notes in my father’s Bible one Sunday. This encouraged me that my father sought to understand the Lord. It also taught me I was welcome to do the same. Because of this, I wanted my father’s Bible after he passed.
- 3. About fourteen months before my father passed, I stayed with my parents to help my mother recover from knee surgery. Dad had been in a care facility prior to my arrival but came home the day after my mother came home from her surgery. During this time, my father spent his days and nights in a recliner near their front window. Several times, I heard him mumbling. Each time I asked him if he needed something, he responded he was praying to God. This taught me that my father was seeking the Lord profoundly near the end of his life.
Now, my earthly father certainly wasn’t a perfect spiritual example for me. But then the only perfect spiritual example we have is God Himself as shown to us in the Scriptures.
Heavenly Father, so much of our upbringing influences our choices. Who we spend time with at any age also has a significant influence on our daily lives. May we see in the study from 1 and 2 Kings today that You desire to be known by us and that You send us messages that You are fully aware of all that we do or don’t do. Grant us the courage of Elijah to live as powerful witnesses of Your devout attention. Thank you, Lord, for your Scriptures that teach us you are interested in your creation. Amen.
How did this study influence your understanding of God today?
Come back next week for part two!
Warmly,
Barbara Lynn
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Ki 22:51.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Ki 22:52.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Ki 22:53.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 1:2.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 1:3–4.
[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 1:5–6.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 1:7–8.