There was a story on the news this week about three young men who beat up an autistic boy and set his hair on fire. I was sickened by that story of human cruelty. How and why could this happen? If even one of the three youths had objected, it’s quite possible the incident would not have happened.
In 1 Kings 22:4 King Ahab, king of Israel, petitions King Jehosaphat, king of Judah, to join him to defeat King Aram and retake Ramouth Gilead, which belongs to Israel. Jehosaphat agrees to join Ahab in that venture. This is a strange alliance, because Jehosaphat is described as a king who “did not turn aside from doing what was right in the sight of the LORD.” Where in 21:17 Elijah says of Ahab: “… you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the LORD.”
Jehosaphat recommends that they “Inquire first for the word of the LORD” (22:5). Ahab inquires of his 400 prophets who all agree they should go and fight King Aram. But Jehosaphat wants to inquire of Micaiah, a prophet of the Lord. Ahab reluctantly agrees. Micaiah is counselled by Ahab’s servant to agree with the other 400 prophets. But Micaiah replied, “As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I will speak” (22:14). Then Micaiah prophesied in verse 17, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd.” Micaiah refused to just go along with the crowd. Because Micaiah would not agree with the other 400 prophets, Ahab had him jailed and given only bread and water.
As this story turns out Ahab is speared to death in battle, and true to Micaiah’s prophecy, all Israel’s troops are scattered. If only Ahab had listened to God and obeyed him.
How about you? Are you ever tempted to agree with others to avoid conflict, or to not hurt someone’s feelings or because you want to fit in? Or do you choose to stand alone with God?
Marcy Alves
Extended Scripture: 1 Kings 21–22 (ESV)
