The Defeat and Death of Ahab

 

 

2 Chronicles 18:28-34

 

July 17, 2023

 

The Defeat and Death of Ahab

So, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.  Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.”  As soon as the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel.” So, they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him; God drew them away from him.  For as soon as the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.  But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore, he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.”  And the battle continued that day, and the king of Israel was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening. Then at sunset, he died.

We must return to the prophecy of Micaiah earlier in the Chapter.  And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’”  And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”  And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.  And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-Gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another.  Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’  And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’

Ahab believed that a disguise would keep God's Word from being fulfilled.  He was very foolish, putting men around him who found out what he wanted to hear and told him so.  It sounds much like Corporate America, where you have a lot of yes men or when they hire a consultation and he asks enough questions to find out what they want and come up with a plan to do so.

 

What about you a follower of Christ, do you study the Word of God, and yet try to get your needs met outside of Christ?  If so do not look down on Ahab, you and he have much in common.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice