Truth Against the Crowd

Chapter 22 closes Ahab's story with a striking picture of the power of God's word. Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahab was unwise, yet his instinct to inquire of the Lord was right. Four hundred court prophets gave a unanimous yes. Unanimity is not truth. Jehoshaphat sensed something was wrong and asked for a prophet of Yahweh.

Micaiah was pressured to agree, but he vowed to speak only what the Lord said. He first answered with mock agreement, then revealed the truth: Israel scattered like sheep without a shepherd. He described a heavenly vision in which a lying spirit was permitted to deceive Ahab's prophets. The vision shows that God rules even over deception and uses it to judge those who reject the truth. Micaiah was struck by Zedekiah and imprisoned, but he called on all the people to listen.

Ahab tried to outwit prophecy by disguising himself. But a soldier drew a bow at random, and the arrow found the gap in his armor. The king died at evening, and the details came to pass according to the word Elijah had spoken. No disguise can hide anyone from God's word. The book ends with Jehoshaphat's faithful reign in Judah and Ahaziah's evil reign in Israel. In the New Testament, Paul warns that a time will come when people will gather teachers to say what their ears want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3).