How much had the king of Israel heard and seen in his father’s time of the wondrous works of the Most High! What terrible evidence of His severity and jealousy had God given apostate Israel! Of all this, Ahaziah was cognizant; yet he acted as though these awful realities, and even the fearful end of his own father, were only an idle tale. Instead of humbling his heart before the Lord he ventured upon the most daring act of impiety which marked his life. He commanded his servants: “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the God of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.” {5T 192.1}

Hvor meget havde ikke Israels konge i sin faders tid hørt og set af den Højestes underfulde gerninger! Hvilke forfærdelige beviser på sin strenghed og nidkærhed havde Gud ikke givet det frafaldne Israel! Ahazja var vidende om alt dette; og dog handler ham, som om disse frygtindgydende realiteter, ja endog hans faders forfærdelige endeligt kun var et tomt eventyr. I stedet for at ydmyge sit hjerte for Herren dristede han sig til den frækkeste og mest pietetsløse handling, der kendetegnede hans liv. Han befalede sine tjenere: »Gå hen og spørg Ekrons gud Ba'al-Zebub, om jeg kommer mig af min sygdom!«