May 8, 2022
Micaiah
If you follow professional golf, you know that intense rivalries are nothing new.
There was Jack Nicholas and Tom Watson.
Greg Norman and Nick Faldo.
Tiger Woods and Phil Michelson.
2021 added the names Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau to the mix. Last summer, everyone who watched golf knew these guys hated each other. They didn’t even try to hide it. For instance, during one interview, DeChambeau walked behind Koepka while he was being interviewed. Completely overcome by annoyance, Koepka lost his train of thought, rolled his eyes, and disgustedly blurted out some expletives that were beeped by television. It was amusing to watch as sports shows played it over and over again.
I think of that scene whenever I read about King Ahab’s reaction to the prophet Micaiah. I imagine King Ahab making the same face at just the mention of the prophet's name.
In case you aren’t familiar, here’s the story.
Ahab was king of Israel, and Jehosophat was king of Judah. Ahab wanted Jehosophat to accompany him into a battle. Although he inititally agreed, on second thought, Jehosophat said maybe they should consult the Lord before heading off to war.
Trying to convince Jehosophat to be his ally, Ahab called in a bunch of “yes men” who called themselves prophets. They predicted victory all around for the two kings. Still, King Jehosophat wasn’t convinced, and he asked if there was a prophet of the Lord they could consult.
Here’s where I think King Ahab did his best Brookes Koepka impersonation:
The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”
“The king should not say such a thing,” Jehoshaphat replied.
So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.” (1 Kings 22:8-9, NIV)
So Micaiah shows up, and as King Ahab predicted, he tells the king the truth: God has predicted Ahab’s doom.
King Ahab loses it and says, "Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I return safely from the battle!”
Micaiah declared, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!” (1 Kings 22:28, NIV)
Spoiler Alert: King Ahab died in the battle. We are left to assume that Micaiah lived the rest of his life eating bread and water in prison. (Because Ahab’s son was also a wicked king.)
Yet, even knowing this would be his fate, Micaiah didn’t back down. Having a ride or die commitment to speaking God’s truth as God’s prophet, he gave God’s message to the king.
Today, he stands as an example to us of how we can be ride or die men of God in a world that doesn’t want to hear God’s truth. Living in a culture that doesn’t want to hear the truth about salvation, Heaven, Hell, or sin, are we willing to make personal sacrifices to speak God’s truth? Will we be like Micaiah or like the “yes men” who said what would benefit them?
Granted, few of us will stand before kings, but each day we come in contact with people who need to hear the truth that they don’t want to hear. Will we love them enough to speak the truth in our families, in our communities, at our jobs, or even in our churches?
Will we represent God no matter what—ride or die?
By: Jamie Holden, Mantour Ministries
Today’s Scripture: But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.” (1 Kings 22:14, NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.