Micaiah Prophesies

They hastened an officer to bring Micaiah. On their way to the kings, this officer told Micaiah what counsel Ahab’s prophets had given, and suggested that it would be well for Micaiah to agree with them. But Micaiah, true man that he was, replied: “As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak.” Verse 14. The counsel he gave the king was the opposite of that which the other prophets had given. “And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?” Verse 18.AGP 101.3

So angered was Ahab that he gave these orders:AGP 101.4

“Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son; and say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.” Verses 26, 27. To this Micaiah calmly replied: “If thou return at all in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.” Verse 28.

This is the last we hear of Micaiah. It is to be supposed that the king’s orders were carried out; and it is not difficult to believe that this good and true man, this man honored by the SovereignAGP 101.5

of the universe as His spokesman, went to his death for his loyalty to God.AGP 102.1

But that is not the last we hear of Ahab. In open defiance of the warning from God through Micaiah, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went up to Ramothgilead. Ben-hadad, king of Syria, “commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.” Verse 31.AGP 102.2

The battle was on. Ahab and Ben-hadad were face to face in another mighty struggle for supremacy. Ahab had twice before been victorious because he had acted in harmony with divine instruction given through the prophets of God.AGP 102.3