Standing Alone: Micaiah the Prophet, (1st Kings 22)

    In the days of the Kings of Israel, there was a faithful prophet of the YHVH (Jehovah), God of Israel named Micaiah who stood alone in that faithfulness under a condition of enormous peer pressure. His life and testimony serve as an example to the believers in these last days to face the situation prophecied by Messiah Yeshua in Matthew 24:24.

Matthew 24:24 "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

    It was a time of (rare) peace between the King of Judah, and the King of Israel, as the nation had been divided after the time of Solomon. Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, when to visit the King of Israel who asked him to join in battle with him against Syria at Ramoth. Jehoshaphat agreed. The only thing left to do before going up to battle was to consult the prophets of Israel as to the will of YHVH.

    One thing that captured my attention in reading this account is the incredible importance of the word of these prophets. To lose a battle at this time in history usually meant facing a physical slaughter... literally sliced up by the sword. No one went into battle causally or hastilly, and the importance of knowing God's will is made clear... thus- the consultation with the prophets. There were many such prophets, serving at the same time as Isaiah, Elijah, and Elisha whom we most often hear about. One was Micaiah, son of Imlah.

    The King of Israel hated Micaiah;

1Kings 22:7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him? 8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

    All of the many prophets of Israel had been heard on this issue of going up to battle against Syria, and all "prophet-lied" to the King that he should engage Syria at Ramoth with a "guarantee" of victory from the God of Israel.

1Kings 22:11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them. 12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand.

   All except one was heard; Micaiah. He is the subject of the above conversation of the King of Israel and Jehoshaphat in verses 7 & 8. When it came time for Micaiah to give his word from God, political and social pressure was placed on him to go along with the others;

1Kings 22:13 And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.

    But Micaiah's heart and faithfulness are made clear in these words of his;

1Kings 22:14 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak. He went on to prophesy, first mimicking the false prophets, but then in all boldness, teaching that a lying spirit had invaded the souls of them all, for the purpose of deceiving the wicked King of Israel. Micaiah taught that all of the rest of the prophets were lying. And then Micaiah prophecied this from God;

1Kings 22:17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.

    He clearly told Israel not to go up to battle against Syria. Also that if the King did go-- that he would not return from battle.

1Kings 22:28 And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you. One of the prophets standing by- Zedekiah, walked up to Micaiah and hit him in the mouth, feeling insulted that Micaiah had said a lying spirit came over him and the other false prophets. The King of Israel then ordered Micaiah to prison for his truthful testimony.

    The Kings of Israel (Ahab) and Judah (Jehoshaphat) went up to battle against Syria. Ahab was struck with an arrow in battle and died in the evening in his chariot. Israel was defeated at the hands of Syria, and the surviving troops were ordered back to their homes just as Micaiah had said;

1Kings 22:37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. 38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.

    Micaiah, the true prophet and son of Imlah, knew what word the Lord God of Israel had given to him, and in the face of immense social and political pressure- yes even when every other one of his peers said the opposite of what he was saying, did was was right in the Lord's eyes. We can learn from this that in our goal of determining truth, one thing we ought not depend on are the numbers. We must seek the Spirit of God, based in His word... and being blessed to receive truth from Him, in these last days, let us also be faithful to God, as our brother Micaiah demonstrated to us.