Designer Idols – Day 12

Baal-zebub

“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 messenger 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?” 2 Kings 1:2-3 NLT

A Philistine god worshipped in Ekron and later adopted by some Abrahamic religions as a major demon to where his name changed to Beelzebub – lord of the flies. In Christian theology, we see this god for what he is: Satan. Known as the prince of hell this deity depiction of him controls the 7 deadly sins. Pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth.

The messenger wasn’t sent to enquire about any of these. His inquiry was to discover the fate of the king’s health. Which makes me believe that these sins, what Baal-zebub stood for, were where his worship was.

“Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?’ Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, ‘This fellow does not cast demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of demons.” Matthew 12:22-24 NKJV

Throughout the Word and testimonies record about Jesus’s ministry, we see that casting out demons and healing is categorized the same. Jesus came to show that TRUE healing – physical and spiritual – is through Him. So many, today still, spend their time (worship) running from one healer to the next. Whether it’s for physical ailments and afflictions or spiritual. I know of people who will visit counsellor upon counsellor without the results they expected. The sin is not to receive treatment or healing. The sin is looking for it elsewhere instead of turning to Jesus first.

Prayer: Father, it’s so easy to just Google a place to go to make me feel better. Physically or Spiritually. I ask Your forgiveness that I’ve misplaced my trust and did not come to You first. Jesus, thank You for the ultimate gift of Your life so I can receive complete healing through Your blood and Your Name: Amen.