Daily Devotional

“Is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word?” (2 Kings 1:16). 

On the morning of October 31, 2015, Peter Siebold survived a fall of more than 50,000 feet. The pilot was testing a vessel that was de- signed to transport rich tourists into outer space. During the test  flight the co-pilot pulled the wrong lever and the mistake cost him his life. The lever set off a series of movements that caused the vessel to begin to break apart. 

Soon Siebold was facing the raging elements in only his flight suit. He plummeted through icy temperatures until his parachute deployed between 10,000 and 20,000 feet. After his landing, he was rushed to the hospital where he discovered his right arm and collarbone were broken. Additionally, he had fiberglass and shrapnel removed from his eyes. The injuries were most likely caused by the breakup of the vessel. Amazingly, he was released from the hospital after only three days. 

King Ahaziah was not so fortunate. When he fell through the lattice of his upper room, his injury resulted in his death. Although the physical fall was bad, his spiritual fall was worse. Not only was he known for doing “evil in the sight of the Lord” (1 Kings 22:52) and serving Baal, but he also decided to ask a foreign god for a prognosis on his illness (2 Kings 1:2). As the king of Israel, he should have known that the creator God knew his future and also had the power to help him recover. 

Yet Ahaziah’s spiritual fall did not end there. Once his messengers were rebuked by Elijah, Ahaziah decided to send troops to get the prophet. The death of the first two sets of troops was not enough to deter him. God spared the third set of troops, but the message for Ahaziah was not as positive. Elijah reported that Ahaziah’s rebellion would end in death, and the prediction soon came true. 

At times we may be tempted to ignore God, but He is waiting to break our fall or help us recover when we have fallen. 

Dear Jesus, please make me humble enough to ask You for help when I need it.