Have you ever felt something terrible was about to happen but believed you couldn’t do anything to stop it? This is likely how the Prophet Elijah felt during one of the most troubling moments in his life.
When Knowledge Becomes a Burden
The scene begins in Damascus, where the king is sick. He hears that Elisha, the prophet of Israel, is in town. The king sends his servant with a lavish gift to ask Elisha if he’ll recover.
Elisha gives what sounds like good news at first, saying the king will certainly recover. But then comes a shocking twist: Elisha adds that the king will also die (2 Kings 8:10).
And then something remarkable happens between the king’s servant, Hazael, and Elisha. He [Elisha] fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was ashamed. Then the man of God wept” (2 Kings 8:11).
Hazael, naturally confused, asks the obvious question: “Why does my lord weep?” (2 Kings 8:12).
Knowing the future actions of this servant, Elisha responds: “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel; you will set their fortresses on fire, you will kill their young men with the sword, dash in pieces their little ones, and rip up their pregnant women” (2 Kings 8:12).
Elijah isn’t crying over some vague sadness about humanity. He’s weeping because he sees the specific horrors the man before him will cause. He sees a fortress burning, hears the cries of young soldiers killed in battle, and witnesses terrible violence against vulnerable children and pregnant women.
What’s both interesting and tragic is that Hazael feels insulted by Elijah’s words. He believes he’s better than how the prophet portrays him.
“What is your servant, who is a mere dog, that he should do this great thing?” (2 Kings 8:13).
But Elisha simply replies: “The LORD has shown me that you are to be king over Aram [Syria]” (2 Kings 8:13).
The very next day, Hazael murders Ben-hadad and takes the throne, and history would prove Elisha’s prophecy terrifyingly accurate.
Reflections
This story may seem distant from our modern lives, but it touches on our deepest struggles. It makes us face the fact that ordinary people can commit extraordinary evil.
Hazael never thought he could do what Elisha predicted, yet with power and opportunity, he became exactly what the prophet foresaw.
How often do we see this pattern today? We discover capacities for cruelty we never imagined in those we thought we knew.
Think about how fast social media can turn neighbors into enemies. Consider how political division can make kind people say mean things. Consider how corporate structures can push good people to make decisions that hurt communities.
We all like to think we’re the exception, believing we’d never take part in systemic injustice or ignore suffering. But that’s exactly what Hazael thought.
We all need to think seriously about power and its effects on people. Hazael didn’t turn into a monster until he had power. Once he did, he used it ruthlessly. What would unlimited power reveal about us?
What do we do with this story? We can learn from Elisha’s response. He didn’t become cynical or detached. He wept and allowed himself to feel the full weight of what he knew was coming.
Elisha likely prayed for God to intervene and show mercy on what was about to happen in his nation. We can’t see the future of our country as clearly as Elisha did, but we can still pray for God’s mercy on us and those around the world.
We can also learn about humility. If Hazael could become what he was sure he’d never be, then we need constant self-examination and accountability.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 