"But..."

After King Ahab’s death, the land of Moab rebelled against Israel. One day Israel’s new king, Ahaziah, fell through the latticework of an upper room at his palace in Samaria and was seriously injured. So he sent messengers to the temple of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether he would recover. But the angel of the LORD told Elijah, who was from Tishbe, “Go and confront the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is there no God in Israel? Why are you going to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether the king will recover? Now, therefore, this is what the LORD says: You will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.’” So Elijah went to deliver the message. [2 Kings 1.1-4]

Because Ahaziah fell through latticework, I would conclude that his "serious injury" included compound fractures and/or open wounds. So in all likelihood, it made perfect sense, at the time, for Ahaziah to inquire of "the Lord of flies" (as Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron is interpreted) because flies, even that far back in history, would have been seen as a deterrent to healing, and therefore "the Lord of the flies" would have been the logical god to appeal to (the one in control of flies). Furthermore, the Lord of the flies could quite easily have been viewed a specialist then for Ahaziah's particular injury. What I am suggesting here is that the decision to consult the Lord of the flies may have been a scientific and therefore reasonable decision.

Now it is obvious where I am going with this... And, the context of the scripture above bears out what I am proposing here - Elijah's scold reveals it: "Is there no God is Israel?" The God of Israel had long before established Himself as God Almighty (God of all might - God capable of any and everything). More specifically, God had revealed Himself as "the LORD Who heals you" (Exodus 15.26).

Sure, God has used knowledge, science, and medicine throughout the Bible. I concede to that obvious fact. However, any time God is neither sought first nor sought at all regarding issues of need, He views that action as idolatry. Period. This story of Ahaziah only reiterates what just days before (in OYCB readings) was seen in King Asa's progressive failure to consult God first (he actually started off seeking God first, but eventually failed to seek God at all).

The Apostle Paul spoke directly to this issue, but in different words, in his second letter to the Church at Corinth:

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, 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 10.3-5]

Ahaziah's mistake was to reason that Baal-zebub was the "specialist" he needed instead of Almighty God Who already had the long-standing declaration and reputation as "the LORD Who heals you." Ahaziah's human reasoning that the Lord of the flies was what he needed therefore became an obstacle preventing him from knowing and therefore turning to God, the Lord of All (ref 2 Corinthians 10.3-5!).

The problem described above is more prevalent today than ever before. In our world of advanced knowledge and human reasoning, there exists a specialized answer for almost every problem. Consequently, in this state of heightened knowledge and reasoning, God has been all but forgotten as LORD of All and therefore not sought out as such. While Christians still feel obligated to acknowledge God, most of us primarily resort to human reasoning just the same. The sad truth is, when it comes to problems that need solving, the Church utilizes all the same solutions as the world except that the Church "throws God a bone" of recognition (like a participant award). Should we not see the grave error in this?

In a world desperate to know who's in control, should not God's people shine as a beacon of God's nature and character? Should not this task be seen as our resolve? Should we not tactfully reveal Almighty God in every situation FIRST and FOREMOST?

Ah, but human reasoning kicks right in (as it is right now with many who are reading this). "But..."

"But..." reveals our present faith-condition. "But..." often reveals our lack of confidence in Who God is and who we are in Him. "But..." usually reveals our fear of failure if we make a stand to trust in God and God alone.

The three Hebrews spoken of in the book of Daniel serve as a permanent reminder of what commitment to seek and glorify God alone looks like. Their faith (revealed in their "But...") was that God would deliver them, but, even if not, they would not bow:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” [Daniel 3.16-18]

It is revealing how the three Hebrews used the conjunction "but..." compared to how we use the word, "but..." Their "but..." did not preserve their earthly lives ("but if He doesn't... [rescue us], we will never... [bow - but instead will die]"). 

In contrast, our "but..." typically preserves our earthly lives (I have faith, but God uses man's devices, knowledge, medicine, etc).

Father, may my life shine the truth of Who You Are and What You Do to a world that is hopelessly lost in Godless self-sufficiency.