DoublePortion_October2023_8.5x5.5_REV.indd

(Genesis 16:7). Perhaps the most prominent Christophanies take place twice in Daniel when Jesus shows up alongside Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace and later to shut the mouth of the lions (Daniel 3:25, 6;22). Why God chose these period appearances of His Son, I can’t say. Certainly, it shows that Jesus didn’t spend the entire Old Testa ment era in heaven, but stood ready to come to fallen earth when dispatched by His Father. Later, when the timing was right, He came as a small child to Bethlehem, growing up to live and then die, paying the price for our sins (Gal. 4:4,5). Note the prophet’s response when given marching orders to inform the injured king of his imminent death - “So Elijah went” (2 Kings 1:4, emphasis added). Once again, we see an ex ample of a ready servant. Elijah is called upon to confront pagan authority–the king’s messengers and eventually the ruler himself. Merely appearing before the king under such circumstances is risky business. Imagine, just as he did with Ahab, passing along a death sentence (1 Kings 21:19, 2 Kings 1:16). Remember Jesus’ words to His disciples about being handed over to authorities and having the Holy Spirit speak through them. We may not be instructed by Jesus or called upon by an angel, yet we have something just as real: God Himself as Spirit living in us! Observe further that Elijah received this Divine appointment in order to conduct a rebuking interrogation, based on the question, “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?” (2 Kings 1:3). Actually, this question is asked twice, first to Ahaziah’s messengers and later the king himself. It’s worth noting that Elijah presented his rebuke in the form of questions, as opposed to direct accusations. As an effective prophet, he realized that the asking of questions was an effective teaching tool.

47