One of the men in the Bible I truly admire is found in 2 Chronicles 18: Micaiah the son of Imlah. He was a faithful prophet to God when he faced a lot of pressure to fall in line with Ahab's 400 prophets. The wicked king Ahab couldn't stand the man! When Jehoshaphat asked if they could inquire of the LORD before going to battle in Ramoth-Gilead, Ahab quickly produced his 400 prophets. Their consensus? "Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand." We are not told how, but Jehoshaphat discerned these 400 prophets were not speaking for God. So he politely asked Ahab, "Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him?"
Ahab was blunt. 2 Chronicles 18:7 tells us, "So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imlah." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say such things!" Even in those dark days, there was still one man by whom they could inquire of the LORD! The Bible tells us among all the kings of Israel there was none more stirred up to wickedness than Ahab (1 Kings 21:25). Jesus says in Luke 6:26, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets." It stands to reason a true prophet of God would not have encouragement or messages of peace for wicked Ahab. God does not lure us into a false sense of security. In love He warns us when we stray from the path, longsuffering though He be.
Whilst Micaiah was being brought before the king, he was strictly told to fall in line. Everyone else had positive things to say: couldn't he just for once agree with all the other prophets? Micaiah did as he was told, only to be rebuffed by Ahab! 2 Chronicles 18:15 says, "So the king said to him, "How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?" Then Micaiah held forth the truth: Israel would be scattered without a shepherd, and Ahab's 400 prophets had been influenced by a lying spirit for the purpose of persuading Ahab to go to battle so he might be destroyed. For his words Micaiah was punched in the face by a false prophet, arrested, and sent to prison until Ahab's return - which never happened!
The verses in the passage which resonated with me when I read it this morning are 2 Chronicles 18:25-27: "Then the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son; 26 and say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction until I return in peace." 27 Then Micaiah said, "If you ever return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said, "Take heed, all you people!" Ahab would perish on the field of battle by the time the sun went down, and not another word is said of Micaiah the son of Imlah. The scripture does not tell us if he remained in prison until the day of his death or was later released. He was the only man among the prophets who spoke the truth and was hated for his trouble. He was sent to prison for doing good. He was commanded to be fed with the bread and water of affliction. Yet even in that dungeon Micaiah had something Ahab did not: comfort and peace with God.
God is looking for people such as Micaiah today, men and women willing to stand up for what is right in the face of opposition. Jesus told His followers we will certainly face persecution and tribulation because of the spiritual battle we are engaged in. Take heart believer! Even if we are thrown in prison we can feed upon the Bread of Life, the One who was afflicted for our sakes. We need never thirst, for God has provided Living Water which springs from us through the Holy Spirit. The words of one man stand true from before the foundations of the earth were laid, and His Word will endure forever! How great is our God, and how blessed are His people no matter what befalls us. Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah hid himself in an inner chamber after he was exposed as a fraud. Speaking for myself, I would rather be imprisoned for the truth than go into hiding to escape the consequences of lies and deceit. I'm thinking Micaiah would agree.
Ahab was blunt. 2 Chronicles 18:7 tells us, "So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imlah." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say such things!" Even in those dark days, there was still one man by whom they could inquire of the LORD! The Bible tells us among all the kings of Israel there was none more stirred up to wickedness than Ahab (1 Kings 21:25). Jesus says in Luke 6:26, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets." It stands to reason a true prophet of God would not have encouragement or messages of peace for wicked Ahab. God does not lure us into a false sense of security. In love He warns us when we stray from the path, longsuffering though He be.
Whilst Micaiah was being brought before the king, he was strictly told to fall in line. Everyone else had positive things to say: couldn't he just for once agree with all the other prophets? Micaiah did as he was told, only to be rebuffed by Ahab! 2 Chronicles 18:15 says, "So the king said to him, "How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?" Then Micaiah held forth the truth: Israel would be scattered without a shepherd, and Ahab's 400 prophets had been influenced by a lying spirit for the purpose of persuading Ahab to go to battle so he might be destroyed. For his words Micaiah was punched in the face by a false prophet, arrested, and sent to prison until Ahab's return - which never happened!
The verses in the passage which resonated with me when I read it this morning are 2 Chronicles 18:25-27: "Then the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son; 26 and say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction until I return in peace." 27 Then Micaiah said, "If you ever return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said, "Take heed, all you people!" Ahab would perish on the field of battle by the time the sun went down, and not another word is said of Micaiah the son of Imlah. The scripture does not tell us if he remained in prison until the day of his death or was later released. He was the only man among the prophets who spoke the truth and was hated for his trouble. He was sent to prison for doing good. He was commanded to be fed with the bread and water of affliction. Yet even in that dungeon Micaiah had something Ahab did not: comfort and peace with God.
God is looking for people such as Micaiah today, men and women willing to stand up for what is right in the face of opposition. Jesus told His followers we will certainly face persecution and tribulation because of the spiritual battle we are engaged in. Take heart believer! Even if we are thrown in prison we can feed upon the Bread of Life, the One who was afflicted for our sakes. We need never thirst, for God has provided Living Water which springs from us through the Holy Spirit. The words of one man stand true from before the foundations of the earth were laid, and His Word will endure forever! How great is our God, and how blessed are His people no matter what befalls us. Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah hid himself in an inner chamber after he was exposed as a fraud. Speaking for myself, I would rather be imprisoned for the truth than go into hiding to escape the consequences of lies and deceit. I'm thinking Micaiah would agree.
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