May 11, 2022
Praying Friends,
Thank you for praying this Wednesday for our prodigals and for revival.
Micaiah was a faithful prophet, who spoke for God during the reign of King Jehoshaphat. You can read the story in 1 Kings 22 or 2 Chronicles 18.
He rises on the pages of ancient Scripture for a brief moment as a true man of faith. There are three lessons from one incident in his life that we can learn.
Ahab, the evil king of Israel, had gone to King Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, in order to create an alliance with him to fight Syria for a city named Ramoth-gilead. His purpose in claiming this city seemed to be for selfish reasons rather than the honor of God. Before the battle took place, the kings inquired of the prophets as to what they should do.
First, Micaiah teaches us that remaining faithful often means you may need to stand alone.
He was one, single, lonely prophet speaking a completely opposite message to that of 400 false prophets (1 Kings 22:6). Their message to King Jehoshaphat was to join with wicked King Ahab, to go into battle, and they would return victorious. It was a message of lies.
Micaiah had the faith to stand against them all because he was standing with God. The old adage is still true, that one person and God is a majority! When you side with God, it doesn’t matter how many are against you!
Second, Micaiah teaches us that remaining faithful means you need to speak the truth.
Jehoshaphat called him a prophet of the LORD (1 Kings 22:7). Yet King Ahab said, “I hate him for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil” (1 Kings 22:8). There was a reason for that! Ahab’s heart was set against God’s will.
While Micaiah was being brought to speak his message to the kings, he was warned that all the other 400 prophets spoke favorably and pressed him to do the same. Micaiah said that he would do exactly what the Lord told him (1 Kings 22:14).
At first, he used a little sarcasm, telling Jehoshaphat to go, but then he became serious. His heart was breaking as he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd” (1 Kings 22:17). It was a message of tenderness and also a message of warning, which was in essence a message of grace. Had they listened to Micaiah’s words, they could have been saved.
In many respects, it is like the gospel message. Disobedience has consequences, and the warnings are echoes of grace to steer us back to Christ. To disregard God’s truth results in personal disaster. As we share the truth, may we do so with the love of God filling our hearts.
Ahab was told the truth, but he chose to listen to the lies of the 400 prophets, so he died on the battlefield. A soldier drew his bow at random and struck the king between his armor (1 Kings 22:34). It may have seemed random, but, in the end, God’s words came true even though Ahab disregarded them. God will not be mocked.
Lastly, Micaiah teaches us that remaining faithful means you will suffer for God. When Micaiah spoke the words of truth, the king's attendant, Zedekiah, came up to him and struck him across the face. It was an attempt to make him feel small in the eyes of those who watched. Then to add insult to injury, they assigned him to prison with meager rations of bread and water (1 Kings 22:24-27). It was not a pleasant situation for the man of God.
It must have been humiliating, but years later the very same thing happened to our Savior at His death. They blindfolded Him and struck Him on the face, with the purpose of degrading and disgracing Him. “Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?” (Matthew 26:67-68 ESV).
It is our privilege to be like Micaiah and associate with our rejected Savior. Whether that is an unkind word, a hurtful action, a rejection of some sort, or even a slap in the face, it is comforting to know we are associating with Him. Paul says, “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10 ESV).
Paul also reminded Timothy that, “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12 ESV). Living for God, being a person of faith, and standing for the truth will result in suffering. May God give us the grace we need for today.
Love in Christ,
Bryan and Rachel
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