Standing for Truth when Power Seems to Belong to the Wicked

Having heard the truth from the prophet Micaiah about his demise, Ahab is still certain that victory awaits in his quest to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead. He won't make it back alive. The scriptures record how Ahab meets his demise in spite of his best efforts to manipulate events to ensure his own safety.

1 Kings 22:29–33 (ESV) So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 30 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 went into battle. 31 Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.” 32 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is surely the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 And when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

Ahab wants the target to be on Jehoshaphat and off himself. Now, this is just after Micaiah warned the battle would be lost. 

Why is Jehoshaphat still open to going to war? We could have here a small illustration of just how easy good character can be corrupted by wicked company. Perhaps Jehoshaphat started to adopt Ahab's mind toward the Word of the Lord the more time he spent with him. Perhaps Jehoshaphat really wanted to win the land back for his own glorification. Whatever the case, Jehoshaphat goes from longing to hear the Word of the Lord's prophets to following the rebellious king's advice. Interestingly, in the next passage when Ahab's son Ahaziah asks for Jehoshaphat's assistance in getting gold, Jehoshaphat refuses. He learned his lesson here.

At first, it seems Ahab's plan works. The Syrians were committed to killing the king of Israel and they chase down Jehoshaphat until he cries out. Then this happens:

1 Kings 22:34 (ESV) 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.”

The text is intentional to point out the absolute randomness of this arrow. But it is not random in the economy of heaven. God would not let Ahab get away with his rebellion. And no matter what schemes of Ahab, the Lord's judgment would come to pass. 

1 Kings 22:37–38 (ESV) So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. 38 And they washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes washed themselves in it, according to the word of the LORD that he had spoken.

This moment is exactly as the prophet predicted in the last chapter after Ahab schemed to steal Naboth's vineyard. The scripture is clear, those who listen to the Word of God will thrive and those who think that by power, manipulation or avoidance can usurp it will not succeed.

In every generation and or context, there is an "Ahab" type of character. Someone with power, someone who seems like they are "getting away with it". If the Church is not careful, we will listen to them and start to follow their wickedness like Jehoshaphat did here with Ahab. But if we read the record of scriptural history and look at the record of Christian history, it is those who stood for righteousness in those generations that we hail as ambassadors of light today. In the time we live it may be a struggle to stand for Christ as the world turns more and more away from the truth. But generations from now will thank those who disregarded the pull of popular opinion in obedience to the timeless truth of Scripture.