2nd Chronicles 18 A BAD ALLIANCE The one who wrote the Chronicles would have included this event in the life and reign of Jehoshaphat to impress on the readers of his generation the serious consequences of unequal yokes and the need to listen to those who have been tried and proven in the service of God. There are those who rise to leadership, even as spiritual advisors who are false prophets and teachers. They want to lift themselves up as qualified leaders at the expense of those who have the real interests of God's people at heart. To be aware of those who are like this, we must read the scriptures ourselves and "try the spirits," (test the teaching) by that which we know to be right. There is also the need of discernment, and that takes time and careful observation to determine if one has the right motives behind what he says, and the right qualifications from God, not just from men.
Jehoshaphat was successful in his reign and yet for some reason his son Jehoram was married to Ahab's daughter, Athaliah, who was evil, evil, evil - just like her father and mother. When believers and unbelievers are joined together in any form of an alliance or yoke, that inevitably leads to the believer's values being compromised, and then their spiritual life is compromised. There was no need for this alliance. Jehoshaphat had "riches and honor." He did not need "affinity" with Ahab. In every decision we make we need to consider the benefits that might occur, and the negative results that may occur. We know that an "unequal yoke" brings bad results. God cannot be to us as a father nor deal with us as sons and daughters. The choice Jehoshaphat made for this unequal yoke, led to a series of unequal yokes that ultimately led God's people into captivity.
A good man can do wrong. In a desire to be tolerant and "mend fences," mixing good and evil always ends in evil. Jehoshaphat almost lost his life; he was later rebuked by Jehu; a business venture failed and his family was almost eliminated by a murdering son. One wicked woman in a marriage of compromise brought evil on the whole nation. It is a principle: serious consequences follow bad choices. This bad alliance brought God's wrath on Jehoshaphat, Ahab and the generation to follow. The wicked daughter-in-law brought with her to the marriage the evil practices of Israel to Judah. Then she even seized the throne of the nation of a short time. One good man's bad choice, led to many bad results. "Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers."
The ambitions of the ungodly have a far different motive behind them than the blessing the godly want to see on the people of God. Four hundred false prophets who agree among themselves to deceive a king in order to advance their own agenda is a lot to stand up against even if you are true to God. True faith in contrast with man's religion seems to the observer a weakness that should be ignored. To stand up against that kind of pressure and the pressure of an evil leader who wants his own way, takes a lot of personal courage and faith in God. To stand before a godly king who wants to help an ungodly king achieve his aim, and tell him to go home, takes God-given boldness. It is always wrong for the godly to help the ungodly achieve an ungodly aim. Subtle suggestions paid heed to, lead to serious consequences to suffer. "Keep thy heart with all diligence..."
Enquiring of the Lord is always important to a believer. Getting a biblical answer from the Lord and acting on it is more important. It is possible for us to be caught off guard by flattery, enticement, deviousness and being impressed by the world. But when we are uneasy about a matter - do not go any farther. When one's conscience is bothered - do not go any farther. When we sense we are acting too quick - do not go any farther. When we have misgivings about the outcome of an action - do not go any farther. Love for God does not just ask for directions, but follows the directions when they are given. Jehoshaphat was told by Micaiah to go home and he should have gone home. But instead he compromised and stayed.
Lying to make one's self look good does not help avoid evil consequences. Misleading the people of God is a serious offense against God. Misleading prophecies originate with Satan who is a deceiver and a liar, and who will use those who speak for him to deliberately mislead others who have a dark agenda for their own advantage. To be called upon with all the hosts of darkness arrayed against him could have been very daunting to Micaiah, but when he was called from prison and told what to say, he did so - but with a mocking tone of voice and a certain sarcasm that was unmistakable even to Ahab. Obeying God may provoke anger and bring hard results but it is always right. The mimicking words and the mocking tone of Micaiah was not a lie, but served to awaken the hearers to what was real and was to come to pass. "For this cause, God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie..."
Being ridiculed for being honest is a good sin of doing right. God used the lying predictions of the false prophets to bring judgment on Ahab. Advisers who want to please you are a danger to you, not a help. There comes a time in the lives of some people when they have gone too far to be recovered. When true prophecy (the true word of God) is rejected because it does not fit our own desire and condemns us, then we are in danger of having gone too far. When the message and the messenger are rejected, we are in danger of having gone too far. Micaiah told the truth and was imprisoned again because of his faithfulness, but he was willing to pay the cost of being faithful because he loved and feared God. Others may try to undermine or diminish truth, but truth does not change nor adapt to the will of man.
Ahab, even though angry with Micaiah's prophecy, feared that it might be true, so he disguised himself and set Jehoshaphat up as a target by having him dressed in his clothes. Foolishly Jehoshaphat went along with the plan of cowardly deception, but his life was spared by divine intervention. He called out in faith and God delivered him. Ahab on the other hand, died by an arrow from one who drew "a bow at a venture" (Naaman ? according to the Targum). Even when we fail and are in hard straits, we can still call upon God. God's deceived servant was spared by God's grace. Ahab died in his own deception because even deception does not have the ability to change the plans of God.