there is one

Photo CR: Hari Rao

Far too many of us are like the King of Israel, Ahab. King Ahab put his trust, not in God. But in those around him. Let’s take one of King Ahab’s decisions into consideration to fully see the similarities between him and the mindset of people today.

God’s Direction lies in the mouth of his prophet

King Ahab had a bone to pick with Ramoth-gilead. But he needed help, support to accomplish his plot against this Levitical city of refuge that was east of the Jordan. So, he solicited the help of Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah to assist him in conquering this city. This brings us to 2 Chronicles chapter 18.

King Ahab inquired of King Jehoshaphat, “… will you go up with me against Ramoth-gilead?” Initially, Jehoshaphat was agreeable to Ahab's alliance request, so long as King Ahab met one of his stipulations. We see this condition in verse 4 of 2 Chronicles chapter 18. It reads
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“… Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel. ‘Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.’”

Even though, Jehoshaphat agreed with Ahab concerning going up against the city of Ramoth-gilead. Jehoshaphat wanted to make sure this was the will of God to do so (Compare to 2 Chronicles 17:3-6; 10; 12). 

To honored Jehoshaphat’s request, King Ahab assembled 400 prophets and asked them. 

“… Shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” (2 Chronicles 17:5)

To which the prophets responded

“… Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.”

After hearing from Ahab’s 400 prophets, Jehoshaphat had enough spiritual discernment to know that something was not right. So, he asked this bold question.

“… Is there not yet a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of him?”

King Jehoshaphat knew two things. 

1. There is no spiritual man or woman who does not have a clearer ear to hear what the LORD is saying but His prophets. Therefore, it was critical from King Jehoshaphat’s standpoint that they (King Ahab and himself) needed to hear from a true man of God? No, he wanted to hear from a true PROPHET of God before deciding to go into battle or not.
2. Although Jehoshaphat was a capable godly man, and he could have opted to make this decision independent of God’s anointed prophet. But he understood that as a leader, he needed the guidance and direction of a true prophet of God who was actually hearing from God to provide them clear direction concerning what God was or was not doing and or saying concerning Ramoth-gilead. King Saul had to learn this the hard way. He truly reaped the consequences from (1) not following the direction of God’s true prophet, and (2) not seeking God’s prophet before acting on what he thought was right in his own eyes.

Now, let’s bring this to a modern time before we finish the lesson, to see what we can learn from 2 Chronicles chapter 18.

only one

Today, we have many men and women who are claiming such titles as prophet or prophetess. But notice, in the case concerning Jehoshaphat, most of the ones who claimed to such titles (400 of them) did not have the backing, the approval, the blessing, or the anointing of the LORD. No, they didn't. They had the backing, the approval, the blessing, or the support of men, but not God. Only one was acknowledged as a true prophet of God in this situation. This was also the case in the case of Elijah the prophet against 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah (1 Kings 18). That is 850 prophets against 1. In that situation, the 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah were challenged to prove that their god was greater and more powerful than the God of Elijah. In the end, only 1 prophet was left standing as the true prophet of God (1 Kings 18:20-35).

So, King Ahab responded to King Jehoshaphat’s concerns by saying.
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Well, there is one. “… But I hate him” (2 Chronicles 17:7).

King Ahab hated the Prophet Micaiah because this prophet would only speak exactly what the LORD was saying. Therefore, he only spoke the truth. King Ahad had a serious problem, a conflict with hearing the truth. He only wanted to hear what was favorable; and good; and righteous; and nice prophetic words from his prophets. King Ahab said to King Jehoshaphat, I hate that prophet Micaiah because “he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil.

And this is where the similarities lay between King Ahab and we the people, especially God’s people today.

Whenever the true voices of God speak exactly the word the LORD is saying, 

• Those who are operating too close to the boundaries
• Those who have fallen from grace
• Those who do not believe in a monotheist God but believe in such baal-like gods like, the universe, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.

Men and women who operate like King Ahab will declare such things as

• Let’s focus on what is good and loving and peaceful
• We shouldn’t judge because God is love and loving

Or they will declare what King Ahab proclaimed. That prophets like Micaiah are always releasing negative reports. And yet, this sounds like a constant pattern of the prophets in God’s living word. 

God's prophet

God’s prophets do not report back from God what we want to hear. They report to us 

• Our true reality
• Our true predicament
• Our true dilemma

They report matters from God’s perspective so that we the people can repent and realign and reconcile ourselves with God. The prophet’s job is to keep us, the people, and our nation properly in line and in agreement with God’s standards, decrees, laws, commandments, and statutes. Because we can’t govern our own steps and we constantly need correction from the LORD; yes, we are often going to receive negative reports from God’s true servants the prophets (compared to Jeremiah 10:23, 24; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Amos 3:7).

If all we get are good reports from those who call themselves God’s prophets, like

• God is going to bless you with $$$
• God is going to bless you with a new home, a new car, etc.
• You better tithe or sow a seed of $$$ to get your blessings
• God is going to bless you, bless you, bless you

If this is mostly or all they are pushing from these prophets. RUN!! Run in the opposite direction because that ain’t no prophet of God. That is a peddler who is peddling the word of God.

In the eyes of King Ahab, Prophet Micaiah was a groom and doom prophet. But unfortunately for King Ahab, he did not heed the counsel of God’s true prophet, Micaiah. And we see the results from this error as we read the ending of King Ahab’s story. This too was the case with the Prophet Elijah and the prophet Jeremiah. They too were considered as a groom and doom prophets during their time. Why? Because they report only and exactly what the LORD said was mankind’s fate at that time if they fail to repent and stop sinning (compare to Hosea 4; Galatians 5). The people and the nation did not heed the counsel or warnings of these two prophets, and we should know how their stories ended for the people and their nation.

​Heed the word of God’s prophet people!