Contrasting Authority

2 Kings 1:13 KJV

And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.

Here is a stark contrast between the authority of the office of the man of God and that of the leaders of this world. Governmental authorities often see themselves as all powerful and scorn any authority other than their own. I can almost hear the haughty voices of the first two captains of fifty, thinking much of themselves because they lead these fifty men and almost forgetting that any authority they do have is received from their king (whose life was in the balance and who desperately needed this man of God). Often has been the case when I have run into a government official who thinks much too much of his office.

• A police officer
• A child services worker
• A county clerk even
• A public school teacher

whose overbearing spirit disgusts the fine position they hold. They behave as if they are somehow superior because they have this job.

But I have also met the occasional official who, like this third captain, realized he was not the all powerful one, people who have seen their capacity as one of service to the people and in some instances have recognized that I'm truth the authority they have is of God and they are responsible to Him.

The captains who were haughty destroyed themselves and those under them. The captain who was humble (before God more than the man) both saved himself and his men from destruction but accomplished his mission as well.