God Ought to be Our Refuge

Scripture: 2 Kings 1:3-8

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?’  “Now therefore thus says the Lord, ‘^aYou shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” Then Elijah departed.  When the messengers returned to him he said to them, “Why have you returned?”  They said to him, “A man came up to meet us and said to us, ‘Go, return 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 where you have gone up, but shall surely die.’”’”  He said to them, “What kind of man was he who came up to meet you and spoke these words to you?”  They answered him, “He was a hairy man with a leather girdle bound about his loins.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

Insights:  Elijah shows up on the scene and stops the messengers who are on their way to Ekron to inquire from the false god for Ahaziah.  Elijah’s singular question is the same question God is asking of us today.  He asks, “Is it because there is no God in Israel…?”  Is there no God in the United States?  When we are desperate due to our crisis, we ought to turn immediately to the Lord God.  All too often, however, we chase after everything in this world.  God ought to be our refuge.  We ought to be in an abiding relationship with Him everyday, but especially in times of crisis.  In essence that fact is exactly what Elijah is asking of the king.  He is asking do you not find your refuge in the Lord and the unfortunate answer for king Ahaziah is, “no.”  Beloved, let me encourage you, in your crisis, to turn to the Lord.  Trust Him in your pain and difficulty.  He is your best choice and He cares about you immensely.  

Questions:

1.  Is God your refuge?

2.  If not, why not?

Prayer: Father, You have proven Yourself time and time again in my life.  Why do I so often faulted in my faith.  Let me find new courage in Your refuge and restore the peace to my heart. Amen.