Then he sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!’” Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. At this the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. The captain said to him, “Man of God, this is what the king says, ‘Come down at once!’” “If I am a man of God,” Elijah replied, “may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men. So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. “Man of God,” he begged, “please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!”’ The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king. 2 Kings 1:9-15
“Now if you consider well, dearly beloved, you will realize that not only the Jewish people fell through pride but also those two captains perished from the same weakness. With great pride and arrogance but lacking in humility, the latter came to blessed Elijah and said, “Man of God, the king summons you.” Because they did not give him honor as an old man or reverence as a prophet, the Holy Spirit spoke through the mouth of the prophet, and they were struck down by a blow sent from heaven. The third captain, however, coming with great humility and contrition, as was proper, pleaded in a tearful voice and not only merited to escape punishment but even induced blessed Elijah to condescend to go to the king. All this, dearly beloved, happened for the salvation of all the people, since the good and merciful Lord struck a few people in order that He might heal them all.”
Caesarius of Arles in Sermon 125.2 in The First Book of Kings 18.26-38 in 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Ancient Christian Commentary on the Scriptures; Downers Grove, IVP, 2008) 140.
As I study the miracles of Elijah I see that in response to pride there is destruction and in response to humility there is generosity. Think about it.
The rich fool in the parables of Jesus is prideful and reaps destruction. When I am prideful, bad outcomes follow. Perhaps you too can relate?
But when we humble ourselves, which I am learning is a daily exercise, the response from God is generosity. Humility is the doorway to blessing and deliverance.
Many have emailed me saying that these miracles of Elijah are new to them. I will admit that I did not recall the destruction of two captains and two cohorts of fifty.
So, let us be like the third captain, taking a posture of humility and contrition. And may our good and merciful Lord pour out rich generosity on us, and grant our requests in His goodness, mercy, and love.