The story of Micaiah.

In the fourth part of a series which examines the relevance of the message and ministry of the non-writing prophets for today, Campbell McAlpine looks at Micaiah.

The writer to the Hebrews begins his letter with the memorable words – “God who at various times and in different ways spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets” (AV). How wonderful of God to leave a record of what he said for our learning and encouragement!

Micaiah’s ministry was during the reigns of Ahab, king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. The setting was the meeting of the two kings with much pomp and ceremony. Their characters were completely different. It is written of Ahab, “There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel and his wife” (1 Kings 21:25). In contrast, it is said of Jehoshaphat that “he sought the God of his father, and followed his commands” (2 Chron 17:4). The two kings were linked through marriage, Jehoshaphat’s son having married Ahab’s daughter.

During this reunion, Ahab asked Jehoshaphat if he would join with him in war with the king of Syria to recover a city, Ramoth Gilead, which rightly belonged to Israel. He agreed, putting his army at Ahab’s disposal. Then he asked Ahab if they could enquire if there was any word from the Lord. It would have been better if he had asked that before he made his decision!

Jehoshaphat made an agreement with Ahab before seeking God’s approval.

Searching for True Prophecy

Ahab immediately sent for his prophets - four hundred of them. They all brought the same message: “Go…for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand”. To reinforce this message, one of them, Zedekiah, confirmed it with a sign. He had made horns of iron and declared: “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans [Syrians] until they are destroyed.’”

This probably brought great applause, with many shouts of ‘praise the Lord’. However, Jehoshaphat had a lack of peace in his heart (which should never be ignored) and asked, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord here whom we can enquire of?" Ahab said there was another one, but he hated him for he never prophesied anything good about him!

It is generally believed that Micaiah was the unnamed prophet who met Ahab returning from a victory over Ben-Hadad, king of Damascus. After the battle, Ahab spared the life of the king of Syria in exchange for certain cities. The prophet said to Ahab, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have set free a man I had determined should die. Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people.’” This was not good news! (1 Kings 20:42).

The king sent for Micaiah, and asked him if he should go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or refrain. Sarcastically Micaiah replied, “Attack and be victorious…” In other words, isn't that what you want to hear? The king turned on him, and said, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”

Then Micaiah said: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the Lord said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.'” Ahab turned to Jehoshaphat and said, “Didn't I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me”.

Jehoshaphat had a lack of peace in his heart, which should never be ignored.

“I Saw the Lord”

What made one prophet stand alone, against four hundred? What drained from him the fear of man, in preference for the fear of God? “I saw the Lord.” What were two earthly kings to Micaiah when he had seen the King? Who were four hundred prophets when he had seen the mighty hosts of Heaven standing on the right-hand and the left, around the throne of God?

He had not only seen the Lord; he had heard him discuss Ahab. The Lord had asked the question from his throne: “Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?” Suggestions were made, but the one accepted was from an evil spirit who offered to be a lying spirit in the mouths of Ahab’s four hundred prophets. He could not do that without Sovereign God’s permission, which was given: “You will succeed in enticing him. Go and do it.”

There was no applause for Micaiah when he gave this revelation, rather the reverse. Then, as now, if you don’t like the message, attack the messenger. Zedekiah, who had taken such trouble to make the horns of iron, rushed up to Micaiah, struck him on the face, and said, “Which way did the spirit from the Lord go when he went from me to speak to you?”

Micaiah told Zedekiah that he would find out which had been the true message, when he was running for his life, and trying desperately to find somewhere to hide.

Into the Valley of Death Rode the Four Hundred

Ahab’s response was not only rejection of the message, but also the messenger. He gave orders to put Micaiah in prison, and put him on bread and water rations until his return. “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me” responded Micaiah. Then, turning to the people, he shouted “Mark my words, all you people!”

In spite of his bravado, Ahab decided to go into battle disguised, but asked Jehoshaphat to go dressed in his kingly robes. The Syrian king had given orders to his army to concentrate on killing Ahab. During the battle Jehoshaphat became the target, but he shouted out, and they realised that he was not the king of Israel, so left him alone. Ahab could disguise himself from men, but not from God. During the battle “someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armour. The king told his chariot driver, ‘Wheel round and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been wounded.’”

What made one prophet stand alone, against four hundred? What drained from him the fear of man, in preference for the fear of God? “I saw the Lord”.

The battle went on and increased. Ahab was propped up in his chariot mortally wounded, and that night he died. His army returned to their homes like ‘sheep without a shepherd’, all according to the word of the Lord.

The Relevance of this Message for Today

The inspired scriptures are useful for “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (1 Tim 3:16). What can we learn from Micaiah’s witness? I would suggest: the importance of judging prophecies.

Today there seems to be a proliferation of prophecies. Unfortunately, many are not ‘judged’ or weighed, sometimes resulting in confusion, disillusionment, frustration and a questioning of the real. What happened to the prophesied revival which was going to take place in May of 1997? As we saw in this story, the oft repetition of the same prophecy doesn’t necessarily make it true. Remember the question Jesus asked Pilate: “Is that your own idea or did others talk to you about me?” (John 18:34).

Many optimistic statements are made which can bring applause from the congregation. I haven’t heard too many cheers when you quote Isaiah 26:9: “When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.” We are not called upon to make people happy, but to help them to be holy, then the two go together.

I remember in the early days of what was called ’renewal', when a prophecy was given, the people were called to silence. The prophecy was considered by the leadership, who encouraged the application of the word - or to correct, if it was not a true word, but just something out of a person's own spirit. That was never for condemnation but for learning.

The oft repetition of the same prophecy does not make it true.

Revelation of and from the Lord

“I saw the Lord.” When Micaiah had revelation of the Lord, then he had revelation from the Lord. One of our greatest needs today is the knowledge of God which is supplied to us mainly through the Bible.

There is the danger of seeking quick guidance, instant revelation, rather than being like Jehoshaphat who ‘sought the Lord’. The danger is following the signs, rather than letting the signs follow. When Micaiah ’saw the Lord’ his desire was to obey God, rather than please men.

When Isaiah ’saw the Lord’ his desire was to be holy, and call others to holiness (Isa 6). When Ezekiel ’saw the Lord’ he was enabled to fulfil his ministry in the most difficult of circumstances (Ezek 1 and 2). When Paul saw the Lord, he was homesick, for Heaven “is far better”. When John ’saw the Lord’ he fell at his feet as though dead and was faithful in receiving and delivering the messages given to him — whether of judgment or of blessing.

Getting Things in the Right Order

As we saw in this story, Jehoshaphat agreed to ally himself with Ahab before enquiring of the Lord. How many times have we sought confirmation from the Lord on what we had already decided to do?

When Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem from the battle he was met by a prophet who brought him this question from God: “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, the wrath of the Lord is upon you” (2 Chron 19:2). Scary isn't it? Multi-faith, beware!

There is danger in following the signs, rather than letting the signs follow.

Conclusion

Let's thank God for all true prophecy, and all true prophets. Let's pray for people of courage, free from the fear of men. Let's pray for discernment, to know the false from the true. Let's pray for leadership to rightly judge prophecy. Let's pray for hunger and thirst to know God through his word, so that we might ‘see the Lord’.

The full story of Micaiah can be found in 1 Kings 22, and 2 Chronicles 18.

Originally published in Prophecy Today, Vol 14(1), 1998. Revised July 2017.