Nontrivial Pursuits – Pursuing a Substitute for God

Substitutes are a part of life. Whether you have a substitute teacher, a sub in a sporting event or you substitute applesauce for vegetable oil in your baking. Often, we need substitutes. However, no one should ever make a substitution for God. King Ahaziah of ancient Israel provides us with a vivid illustration of this truth. The Bible notes two things about Ahaziah: his clumsiness and idolatry. According to 2 Kings 1:2

Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.

1. Pursuing a substitute for God is our sinful inclination.

Ahaziah was the King of the northern kingdom of Israel, a nation created when God stripped ten tribes from Rehoboam, son of Solomon. Though now a divided people, the Lord’s covenant relationship with them persisted. The Lord was their God, not a false Philistine substitute named Baalzebub. Interpreting the meaning of this false god’s name, he was no lord of a nation; he was the “lord of the flies.” It seems we can make a religion out of almost anything! Whether flies, social media, streaming on television, sports, health and wellness — it’s a religion for someone. Nothing is good for you, not even a health or fitness program if it takes the place of the God who can alone provide the spiritual nourishment we need.

2. Pursuing a substitute for God makes no sense.

While Ahaziah’s messengers are on their way to consult this false god, God’s prophet, Elijah intercepts them and sends them back with a question for Ahaziah.

Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. (2 Ki 1.3b-4a)

This is a good question for the king. What he is attempting is incredibly foolish, and he’s only going to continue his downward spiral of depravity. When Ahaziah discovers this message came from Elijah, he ignores how the Lord used this prophet during the reign of his father, King Ahab. Elijah prophesied to Ahab that there would be no rain, and God shut up the heavens for three and a half years! This same Elijah offered a sacrifice to God alongside the prophets of the false god Baal on Mount Carmel. The fire of the Lord miraculously came down from heaven and consumed Elijah’s offering! This same Elijah prophesied judgment and doom against Ahab and Jezebel for their wickedness and they both perished as he said.

Ahaziah should know better. He should know that he cannot take this message from God’s prophet lightly. When God’s Word confronts us, there is a demand for change. The only correct response is repentance. That’s how Ahaziah should have responded. This is the one time he should have followed in his father’s footsteps (cf. 1 Kings 21:27–29). However, the Lord had no place in this man’s life, and his foolish response demonstrates this.

How foolish it is for us to replace God with earthly things, satisfying our will instead of God’s will! Families choose sports practice over church services and skip Sunday school to catch up on sleep because of a late night of fun on Saturday. Wrong attitudes towards regular worship will set your feet firmly on a downward trajectory of spirituality.

3. Pursuing a substitute for God demonstrates pride.

Ahaziah chooses the wrong response and dispatches two separate bands of fifty-one soldiers each, attempting to bring in Elijah by force. The spiritually weak king attempts to flex his martial might. By the end of this military operation, there are a hundred and two piles of ashes on the ground and Elijah is still sitting on top of his hill. God sent fire down from heaven, killing these men. Why did God do this? For their pride — they dared to confront and oppose God’s spokesperson. By confronting Elijah, they confronted and opposed God. God says,

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. (Ps 10.4)

Contrast Ahaziah and his first bands of soldiers with the third — not everyone in this account responds with pride. One more band of fifty-one soldiers approach Elijah, but this time the captain comes with humility. This man recognizes the authority of God, and he and his men live to see another day. The Lord tells Elijah to go with them to Ahaziah. However, the Lord’s message for the king doesn’t change. If only Ahaziah would have followed the example of his humble captain. They were all well-aware of what God had just done to the first bands of warriors. God spoke with authority, an authority Ahaziah ignored because he substituted another authority for God. When God speaks, we must submit not challenge God’s authority, substituting our own selves in God’s place.

Conclusion

Ahaziah was a failure with a two-year reign, no accomplishments, and no heir to the throne. He was unsuccessful. True success is godliness. Ahaziah shows us a man who wanted something instead of the Lord. He sought a substitute for the One for whom there is no substitute. He pursued a false god instead of the true God. In the end, he came crashing down, both literally and figuratively. Let this account be an encouragement to search your heart and ask the Lord to show you any substitutes for Him in your life.

Brent Niedergall is youth pastor at Catawba Springs Christian Church in Apex, North Carolina. He holds an MDiv from Shepherds Theological Seminary and is pursuing a DMin from Maranatha Baptist Seminary.