Micaiah’s Lying Spirit

Synopsis     1Kings 22:13-22     7/12/2019 

Micaiah was a true prophet of God. At Jehoshaphat’s request, King Ahab sent a messenger to Micaiah. The two kings had agreed on a course of military action. And so, they were looking for validation that their plans were in accordance with God’s intents.  

Micaiah went to the kings. Initially, he offered a mockish prophecy that agreed with Ahab’s prophets. So, King Ahab ordered Micaiah to give him a true prophecy. Micaiah responded by describing Israel’s loss in battle. He compared it to the way sheep scatter when they have no shepherd.  

Micaiah went further. And he explained that God had allowed a lying spirit to come over Ahab’s prophets. As a result, eventually the king would be deceived into entering an imprudent battle.  

Micaiah’s Lying Spirit 

God is not a liar. What happened is that Ahab’s prophets arrogantly misinterpreted what God was actually saying. This was a limitation based on their hubris and perhaps their desire to please the king.  

For their part, they probably didn’t think they were encouraging Ahab into a losing battle. For, they would have had no reason to do this. When a prophet has a failed prediction, it’s not good for their resume. In the future, such people are perceived as false prophets and inadequate advisors.  

Instead, it seems clear that Ahab’s prophets simply did not realize what they were saying.  

The Lying Spirit Remains 

One of the strangest aspects of the liberty that God gives to me, is that I can misuse it. I accept the extraordinary freedom that God has given me. And I live in that liberty. But the temptation is to think that the moral liberty that God gives me implies that there are no moral consequences within this range of liberty.  

However, experience tells me this is not the case. I may act within the range of my moral freedom and be motivated by selfishness. And when I do, I find I do not profit. And not just money profit.  

When I do less than God’s best in any situation, then I find that grace does not increase. In other words, things don’t flow. I may even end up achieving some goal but the friction involved in forcing my will over God’s best usually creates broken relationships and regret.   

So, by God’s grace the truth is always available. But still, God will not prevent me from arrogantly misinterpreting my circumstances. This is the lesson of Adam and Eve. It is a true principle from the very beginning.  

Because He respects the liberty He has given me, He won’t stop me from acting on the deceptions of the evil one. True freedom is perhaps the one thing that I at least have to want to do for myself.  

For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love.” Gal 5:13