In my own Scripture readings today, I found myself in 1 Kings, chapter 22. Here we have the story of Micaiah, the prophet of God, who stood against 400 false prophets. It is a story that got my attention, in more ways than one:
The world we live in needs people who will stake their lives on the reality and truth of the Word of God. King Ahab of Samaria invited King Jehoshaphat of Judah to go to battle with him. Jehoshaphat wanted God’s approval so Ahab sent for 400 prophets, but each one of them had the exact same message which made Jehoshaphat nervous. He wanted truth and truth alone. These prophetic messengers sounded “rehearsed” to him, so he said: Is there not a prophet of the Lord here, whom we can inquire of? At that request, Ahab sent for Micaiah, whom he despised, because all of his prophecies seemed to be against Ahab.
One of the false prophets exerted enough pressure on Micaiah, that his first prophecy was just a rubber stamp of what the other 400 had said. But recognizing the disingenuous and sarcastic tone of the prophet, the King asked him to speak the truth and tell what he felt God was telling him to prophecy – and, true to form, it was a prophecy from God against Ahab. God’s prophet stood alone against 400 other prophets who (it appears) were being bought off.
Ahab was so infuriated with Micaiah’s prophecy, that he ordered him thrown in prison until he (The King) returned home safely. At this, God’s prophet announced (in essence) that the only way the King would return would be to return dead. And as God’s will is ALWAYS right, that is indeed what happened. King Ahab disguised himself in battle so as to protect himself a little more, yet a random arrow took the King’s life and he returned to Samaria, in his chariot, but without any life left in his body.
These days, are days when people must attune their ears to hear God’s voice – regardless of what popular opinion may be saying, or else they may find themselves dead and out of the will of God. Sometimes we must go against the flow in obedience to God. The Word of the Lord is what we need … and we rally to men and women of God who speak the truth, regardless of the circumstances or the approval rating. I want to be one like that. Who obediently declares what God says and God alone – regardless of whether it is the popular thing to say or not!
But I found myself wondering what happened to the prophet of God. When we stay true to God and speak only what HE says … should we not then “succeed” in what we are about? Should we not find favor with God and should not all things work out well ??
You see in my studies, I find no place that indicates that Micaiah, ever got out of prison! It may be assumed, but for my mind – I needed to find it to be true. According to the King’s last edict, he would remain in prison until the King returned home safely. Since the King returned home dead (as he may have deserved in arrogantly defying God’s will for this decision) – it would appear to me that Micaiah remained imprisoned – for doing the right thing before God !! That bothered me … and I found in my prayer time, I was asking God … what ever became of Micaiah? He did what you told him to do? Should he not have been rewarded? Should he not have been released? Should life for him not have turned out “happily ever after” ?
While I cannot declare that God spoke to me audibly (it was much clearer than that) I believe He responded to me with this assurance:
When I asked: Whatever became of Micaiah? God responded to me: He is right here, at my side, enjoying the eternal rewards of heaven for his faithful obedience to me.
And it was as if God was reminding me … Lynn, success in this world is NOT what you should be working toward. This world is NOT your eternal home. This world is just the warm-up act. Your focus should be on absolute obedience to me – so that for all of eternity – you will be able to enjoy the rewards of being a faithful servant. Remember, HEAVEN is the REAL reality! The prophets time in prison – for doing the right thing – is quite insignificant compared to all the glory he is enjoying in my eternal heaven.
I will be the first to admit: that was not necessarily the answer I was looking for … but it was indeed the truth. I believe we focus way too much on wanting to experience our rewards here on earth, when the fact of Holy Scripture is, that our ultimate rewards and true rewards will not be experienced until we reach eternity. This world is not our home! And as disconcerting as this story may have been to me, to realize that an obedient prophet may have died in prison for doing the right thing, it helped me to remember that obedience is better than sacrifice and in truth: a far better, more glorious eternity is awaiting each of us – so we had better live allowing that truth to motivate our decisions and reactions down here.
Obedience to God is ALWAYS the best path of direction whether it is popular or not; whether it lands us in difficult circumstances or not – because we are all just passing through this world to a far greater world on high. Realizing that makes me want to live with my focus on eternity not on the transitory things of this world. Aren’t you thankful that God’s Word is so blunt and direct? Indeed, this may be a troubling truth … but it is indeed truth none-the-less.
See you in His house,
Pastor Lynn
