Jehoshaphat’s Alliance with Ahab
18 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he made an alliance with Ahab through marriage.[a]
Because Jehoshaphat was established by God, he had more than enough to stay afloat.
Jehoshaphat connected with Ahab, a man who many/most times was found dishonoring God and His Word. Jehoshaphat's son married Ahab's daughter.
God will establish you by funding your project. When you have God as an investor or someone who will sponsor you, you have everything you will need to stay in business.
2 Then, after some years, he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep, goats, and cattle for him and for the people who were with him, and he persuaded him to attack Ramoth-gilead,
Jehoshaphat went down to visit Ahab, his son's father-in-law. Ahab made a feast for Jehoshaphat and those that traveled with him. Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to attack Ramoth-gilead.
Ramoth-gilead was a city that was a part of the children of Israel's gift from God that had been stolen by the Armani. Ahab, after a few years, wanted it back. He asked Jehoshaphat to aid him in retrieving Ramoth-gilead.
Jehoshaphat is a man of God. Jehoshaphat was a man. I do not want to overanalyze this verse; however, I want to draw attention to what I see that may be some details I should pay attention to in my own decision-making.
Jehoshaphat allowed his son to marry Ahab's daughter.
Jehoshaphat went down to visit King Ahab.
Jehoshaphat went to Samaria, a city that was not fully following, or should I say a city that was in disobedience to the Word of God?
When we take mini patterns that route us away from God, the sum of the steps can be expensive, even deadly. Jehoshaphat, from the surface, seems to do what many do. I am visiting relatives, and he happens to live where some people do not make good decisions. Oh well, he is family, and we do some things to help each other (shruggingly). Jehoshaphat proceeds in his endeavor, and let's continue to see how all this plays out.
3 for Israel’s King Ahab asked Judah’s King Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?”
He replied to him, “I am as you are, my people as your people; we will be with you in the battle.” 4 But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First, please ask what the Lord’s will is.”
King Ahab asks king Jehoshaphat to help him attack Ramoth-gilead. Jehoshaphat agreed with one stipulation. I want to know what my God has to say about this matter.
5 So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, four hundred men, and asked them, “Should we go to Ramoth-gilead for war or should I refrain? ”They replied, “March up, and God will hand it over to the king.”
Ahab called 400 men who were known as prophets in Samaria. To be known as a prophet in Samaria is like being known as a profit in Samaria. These men had titles of God's employment, but they did not have God's authority. These were men who were known to say what people wanted to hear. Ahab and the men themselves were not honest, but they came together to fit the occasion of Ahab's greed.
Ahab as the puppet holder, asked the question, should I fight to get back my stuff? And the puppets replied in one voice, YES!
6 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord here anymore? Let’s ask him.”
Jehoshaphat said, okay, however, is there a prophet of God's Word in town? I would like to know what he thinks about what we are about to do.
When you spend time in God's Word, you can sense an awareness that we need to dig a little deeper before we preceded. Jehoshaphat said I want to know what God has to say before bringing myself and those I command into this situation.
7 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man who can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”
King Ahab knew the prophets that were for him, and he knew the prophet that was of God. We all do. We know people by the fruit they produce. We know what we can expect; rarely are we truly misled. There is something about truth. Truth is in a class all by itself. How can we avoid ignoring the honest truth? Pay attention to details. Have quality in ourselves, and then we will see the quality in others. Darkness hates the light. Darkness also recognizes light.
“The king shouldn’t say that,” Jehoshaphat replied.
Jehoshaphat did not let King Ahab's words slide. He said, you are king, don't say that about the prophet of God.
8 So the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Hurry and get Micaiah son of Imlah!”
Micaiah was known by Ahab. Ahab did not want to hear what he had to say, but he knew that Jehoshaphat would not move forward until his request was honored or at least checked out.
9 Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, clothed in royal attire, were each sitting on his own throne. They were sitting on the threshing floor at the entrance to Samaria’s gate, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 10 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made iron horns and said, “This is what the Lord says: You will gore the Arameans with these until they are finished off.” 11 And all the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “March up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed, for the Lord will hand it over to the king.”
400 hundred men gathered, 2 kings, sitting in their rightful spaces, and the 400 men are agreeing that Ahab will obtain his request of victory.
If God is not present, truth is absent. When we ignore God's word, everything about us is blank or nothing. Numbers mean nothing if it is not in God's favor. We live in a society where many people think when they speak, they are the majority; what they say rules. Ahab lived centuries ago. We still copy his mindset today, thousands of years later. Having the greatest count does not mean you are right.
Micaiah’s Message of Defeat
12 The messenger who went to call Micaiah instructed him, “Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king. So let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”
Sadly, even the messenger tried to tamper with truth.
Samaria had some wicked people in many positions. His job was to bring someone whom the king asked for to the king. Instead, he tells the man, hey, don't start anything; the decision is already in the king's favor. Let's get this over with, okay? Just go with the flow. It seems the king was not the only one who knew of Michaiah's reputation.
13 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, I will say whatever my God says.”[b]
Michaiah said all that needed to be said. God has the last word, and that is what I will speak. Integrity does not need an audience to be what it is.
14 So he went to the king, and the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to Ramoth-gilead for war, or should I[c] refrain?”
Micaiah said, “March up and succeed, for they will be handed over to you.”
The king asked Micaiah the same question he asked the 400 men. Micaiah said, yes, go up, and all will go well. This was not the truth. Micaiah knew it, and Ahab knew it also. Why did Micaiah say this to Ahab? It could have been they both knew each other, and Michaiah wanted him to know, "man, you know I do not respect you being king!" I am saying what you want to hear, and you know me better than that. King Ahab had a reputation in the community, and people knew he was up to no good. Those that said what he wanted to hear were known as jokers. (for lack of a better word)
15 But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the Lord?”
Ahab is stating that he has more than one encounter with Micaiah. Ahab knew the Word of God. He did not live the Word, but he knew right when he recognized it.
16 So Micaiah said:
I saw all Israel scattered on the hills
like sheep without a shepherd.
And the Lord said,
“They have no master;
let each return home in peace.”
Micaiah speaks the truth. I saw this place with no king. The people were like sheep with no shepherd. In other words, the men that will go to war with you, Ahab, will come back home, but you will not.
17 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster?”
Ahab said, see, I told you, he was different. He always tells me the truth, and I don't like it. I am a bad leader, and all know that. But he is the only one who calls me out on my foolishness.
18 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and the whole heavenly army was standing at his right hand and at his left hand.19 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice King Ahab of Israel to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ So one was saying this and another was saying that.
20 “Then a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will entice him.’
“The Lord asked him, ‘How?’
21 “So he said, ‘I will go and become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’
“Then he said, ‘You will entice him and also prevail. Go and do that.’
22 “Now, you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit into the mouth of[d] these prophets of yours, and the Lord has pronounced disaster against you.”
Micaiah turns to the 400 prophets and says, I saw you as well. God has allowed you to come together and lie to this man. And you have spoken just as I have seen. Micaiah cared nothing for the king or the 400 lying prophets who all spoke something different than what he knew was true.
23 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah on the cheek, and demanded, “Which way did the spirit from the Lord leave me to speak to you?”
Zedekiah decided to be the "show off," since Micaiah spoke against the king, Zedekiah took it upon himself to strike Micaiah. People will put their own lives on the line if the leader favors me, so I will do what I have to do to make them like me.
24 Micaiah replied, “You will soon see when you go to hide in an inner chamber on that day.”
Micaiah did not change his stance, "although you seem to be Mr. Tough, you will be hiding when all this is over." (this is how I see it), and might I add, it will be sooner than you think.
25 Then the king of Israel ordered, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son, 26 and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this guy in prison and feed him only a little bread and water[e] until I come back safely.’”
Ahab commanded take this man to the person in charge of the jail. Lock him up and don't give him the regular bad food; just give him bread and water until I get back.
27 But Micaiah said, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he said, “Listen, all you people!”
Micaiah had the last word. If what I said is a lie, then know that God did not speak through me. Then Micaiah's final words were to everybody, I have spoken a word from God; you better listen.
Ahab’s Death
28 Then the king of Israel and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-gilead. 29 But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.
If Ahab was sure he would return and all will go well, why did he make an extra effort to disguise himself? Ahab was scared of the words of Micaiah. So he did all he knew to alter the truth by changing his outfit.
30 Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone at all[f] except the king of Israel.”
The king with whom Ahab wanted to war with said to take the life of none other than Ahab.
31 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they shouted, “He must be the king of Israel!” So they turned to attack him, but Jehoshaphat cried out and the Lord helped him. God drew them away from him. 32 When the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
Jehoshaphat's life was in danger. But God helped him. The attackers did not harm him, even being recognized as king. The attackers saw the attire of Jehoshaphat and came after him. Jehoshaphat had favor with God. Even though he was not where he should have been.
God knows that we are mere men, people who want to be found doing the right things, but God still helps us in times of need when we make mistakes. Jehoshaphat could have been killed, but God stepped in.
33 But a man drew his bow without taking special aim and struck the king of Israel through the joints of his armor.
Man does what he can do as far as he can see. The problem with that is man has limited vision. We need God. Ahab thought an outfit could deter his enemy. What a waste of time. A man was used by God to accomplish his Word in a way Ahab did not see it coming. When God speaks, his words accomplish. It is better to obey God than to waste your time by sacrificing what should have been saved.
So he said to the charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle,[g] for I am badly wounded!” 34 The battle raged throughout that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then he died at sunset.
Ahab did not seek help for his wound. He propped his life to the end. The enemy will blind us to death. We must not bank on getting it right at the point of death. Our minds don't work that way. If our habit is to ignore God, then our minds will do what it does, even at the point of death.
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