13So 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!”
I would not want to have been this third captain. The two previous leaders, probably his friends, have died on this same mission with their respective companies of fifty men each. The first two demanded that Elijah come under the king’s authority and respond to his order to come down from the hill. Elijah had responded with a call to his higher authority as a man of God. This third captain recognizes Elijah’s higher authority, even higher than the king. He comes and falls down before Elijah, showing submission to that authority. He then acknowledges that his life and the lives of his fifty men are in Elijah’s control, not the king’s control. They are no longer servants of the king, but of Elijah. This servant needs Elijah to respect his life. I can imagine this man almost begging for his life. He probably has a wife and kids. He just wants to be able to go home and see them. He didn’t want this assignment. The two previous captains were consumed by fire from heaven. I know I wouldn’t want to be number three. He is following the orders of an evil king. Elijah hears the different spirit of this captain, a man who knows his place, a man who recognizes the LORD and His power.
The Arnold Journey 