102 Soldiers die because of pride - 2 Kings 1-5

God respects humility and the Fear of the Lord.  In the story in 2 Kings 1: 10-15 we see that the king sent down a Captain of Fifty and his fifty soldiers with him to "retrieve" the prophet Elijah.  Because of the Kings presumption and the Captains arrogance God destroyed them with fire.   So, the King sent down a second Captain of Fifty.  But, that Captain didn't learn anything from the first, approach the prophet with equal strength and pride and met the same fate.   It wasn't until the third Captain of Fifty came that we see what humility and the Fear of the Lord can do for you.   Not only was this Captain of Fifty spared, he was also able to complete his task.  When we approach life with this attitude God promises many good things.   The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and when we have wisdom we make great choices to honor God in our lives.   Like the third captain of fifty we ought to learn from others when they approach God in arrogance and in their own strength.  This is a lesson for all of us as we maneuver through life.    God rewards humility and destroys arrogance.  God hates pride and the evil way.