2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 18: Micaiah speaks the LORD's word

Begin in prayer

Before you read about Micaiah and four hundred prophets, stop and ask God to give your family a love for His truth. Ask Him to show you Jesus, who is the truth.

You are near, Yahweh. All your commandments are truth.

Psalm 119:151

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that what You say comes true, and show us Jesus, who is the truth. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Jehoshaphat allies himself with Ahab king of Israel and goes down to Samaria. Ahab asks him to go to war at Ramoth Gilead, and Jehoshaphat says to inquire first for the LORD's word. Four hundred prophets tell Ahab to go up, yet Micaiah answers that he will speak what his God tells him. He says he saw Israel scattered like sheep with no shepherd, and Zedekiah strikes him on the cheek. Ahab puts Micaiah in prison and goes to battle in disguise. Jehoshaphat cries out and the LORD helps him, and a man draws a bow at random and Ahab dies at sunset.

As you read 2 Chronicles 18, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD's word came true through Micaiah, though four hundred prophets said the opposite.

Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD, allied himself with Ahab and went down to Samaria (verses 1 and 2). Ahab asked him to go to war, and Jehoshaphat said, “Please inquire first for Yahweh’s word” (verses 3 and 4). Four hundred prophets told Ahab to go up, for God would deliver the city into his hand (verses 5 and 11). Ahab said of Micaiah, “I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me” (verse 7). Micaiah said, “As Yahweh lives, what my God says, that will I speak” (verse 13). He told Ahab that he saw Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep with no shepherd (verse 16). Micaiah also told of a scene in heaven, where a lying spirit went out to deceive Ahab's prophets (verses 18 to 22). Ahab jailed Micaiah and went into battle in disguise, yet an arrow shot at random struck him, and he died (verses 26 to 34). So the LORD's word through Micaiah came true, and the LORD helped Jehoshaphat when he cried out (verse 31).

How does 2 Chronicles 18 show us that the LORD's word came true through Micaiah, though four hundred prophets said the opposite?

Four hundred prophets told Ahab what he wanted to hear.

Jehoshaphat said to inquire first for the LORD's word (verse 4). Ahab gathered four hundred prophets, and they said to go up, for God would deliver the city to the king (verse 5). Zedekiah made horns of iron and said the Syrians would be pushed until they were consumed (verse 10). The messenger asked Micaiah to speak good like the others (verse 12).

Micaiah said he would speak only what his God said.

Ahab said he hated Micaiah, because he never prophesied good about him (verse 7). Micaiah said, “As Yahweh lives, what my God says, that will I speak” (verse 13). He told Ahab that he saw Israel scattered like sheep with no shepherd (verse 16). Zedekiah struck him on the cheek, and Ahab put him in prison (verses 23 to 26).

The LORD's word came true, and Ahab died in battle.

Micaiah had said, “If you return at all in peace, Yahweh has not spoken by me” (verse 27). Ahab went into battle in disguise (verse 29). One man drew his bow at random, and the arrow hit Ahab between the joints of his armor (verse 33). Ahab died at about sunset (verse 34). When the captains turned on Jehoshaphat, he cried out, and the LORD helped him (verse 31).

Jesus is the truth, and He speaks what the Father says.

Jesus said that He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14 verse 6). He said He speaks as the Father taught Him (John 8 verse 28). Micaiah spoke the LORD's word and was shut in prison for it. Jesus is the true Word from God who spoke only what the Father gave Him.

Memorise

As Yahweh lives, what my God says, that will I speak.

2 Chronicles 18:13

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I listen to Jesus, who is the truth, even when it is hard?

Micaiah said, “As Yahweh lives, what my God says, that will I speak.” Four hundred voices said what the king wanted to hear, and one voice spoke the truth. Jesus said that He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14 verse 6).

The truth about us is hard. We have sinned against a holy God, and sin must be paid for. Jesus went to the cross for His sheep, and His one sacrifice paid it fully. The grave could not hold Him, and He rose to live forever.

So listen to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will be forgiven, and will know the truth that makes people free (John 8 verse 32).

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD's word through Micaiah came true, and that Jesus is the truth. Parents, verses 18 to 22 describe a scene in heaven that is hard to explain, so please tell it briefly. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that what He says always comes true, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

For your loving kindness is great toward me. You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.

Psalm 86:13

Father, thank You that Your word is always true. Thank You for Jesus, the way, the truth and the life, who died and rose for sinners. Please help each of us to listen to Him and to leave our sin. Amen.