Jump Start # 1207

1 Kings 22:19 “Micaiah said, ‘Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of Heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.”

Our passage today is a very interesting scene that takes place in Heaven. Ahab is the wicked king of Israel. Influenced by his evil wife, Jezebel, the prophets of God had been slaughtered and an attempt was made on Elijah’s life. Now the Syrians were coming to battle Israel. The false prophets that Ahab had surrounded himself with encouraged him to go to battle and promised him a victory. Micaiah had a different message.

This is where our verse comes from. In a vision, the true prophet is shown a special scene in Heaven. There is nothing like this in the rest of Scriptures. The Lord, sitting on the throne, wonders who and how they will get Ahab to go off to battle. The Heavenly host, angels and others, give their input. Different suggestions are made. One suggested enticing Ahab with a false spirit by having his prophets deceive him. The plan was approved and the wicked prophets gave a glowing picture of a sure victory. It wasn’t going to happen. God had decreed that Ahab’s life and reign was coming to a sudden end.

Ahab disguised himself and had another dressed like the king. They Syrians pursued the fake king. Innocently, someone fired an arrow that hit Ahab between the joints of his armor and he was killed.

This is fascinating Biblical history, but more it pulls the curtains of Heaven back just a bit so we can see what happened behind the scenes. It shows that the heavenly host have more input than we often think. They are not just silent servants that stand about awaiting the Lord’s next commands. The Lord included them, sought their insights and advice and even approved their plan. It also shows that the Lord approved of sending a deceptive spirit upon a wicked king.

Now some observations and lessons:

First, God is active in the world. In Daniel that is a statement about God bring kings up and removing kings. Sometimes, most times, we do not see what the Divine is doing behind the scenes. Wars, deaths, assassinations, changing of leaders—how much of this is designed by Heaven is hard for us to know and grasp.

Second, it shows that we haven’t fully figured out the inter workings of Heaven. It seems from this passage that the Lord was wanting ideas. Certainly He knew what to do. Why did He invite the suggestions of the Heavenly Host? How many other times has something like this taken place? This opens a whole world of things we have not nor cannot fully grasp.

Third, the Lord approved of a spirit deceiving Ahab and filling his prophets with false messages. That doesn’t fly well in our thinking about God. His holiness and goodness, at least in our minds, would never deceive or approve of deception, even to accomplish His will. But it seems He does here. This tells us once again, we do not have God figured out. He’s beyond us. As we learn from Job, we are not one to question God. His ways are true.

Fourth, Ahab was forced to go into battle. Ahab was weak, corrupt and wanting to hear what he heard. It didn’t take much for him to be convinced that a battle was the right thing to do. Ahab could have said no. His wicked heart fed right into the deceptive words of the false prophets. The two were made for each other.

Fifth, Ahab was removed as king. That was God’s plan. Ahab thought he was wise in disguising himself. You can’t fool God. God knew. A random arrow got Ahab. The arrow, directed by Heaven’s design, accomplished what God wanted. He was through with that filthy, ungodly leader. He had connections to God’s prophets but he wouldn’t listen. God also dealt with the wicked Jezebel. She got what was coming to her.

Finally, God is amazing. What seemed like just another battle in the pages of history, are full of God’s plans, and God’s designs. Most never knew about all of this. It was just a sad day for Israel as they suffered yet another loss in battle. It’s hard to know just where God has His fingers in our world and even in our lives. His will cannot be overthrown. It will be accomplished. It may come about in ways that we would never dream.

Ahab dies as a man void of God in his life. He was empty of goodness and righteousness. He had multiple chances to do right, but he didn’t. And for us, we must wonder if the Lord holds a huddle or heavenly meeting with those around Him to discuss things on the earth today. Our jobs are not to try to figure these things out, because we cannot. Ours is to live according to His revealed word and trust always in the Lord.

Roger