King Ahab – Be Still…

Read 2 Chronicles 18:9-34

Is that how you thought Ahab’s life would end? Despite all his efforts to defy Micaiah’s prophecy from the LORD, Ahab still died, just as the LORD had said. Clearly, Ahab chose not to let the prophet’s message from God stop him from his attempt to take over Ramoth-gilead.

I had to wonder why Jehoshaphat went along with Ahab after hearing the warning from God. Was Jehoshaphat secretly trying to get rid of Israel’s king by going along with this war? How could Jehoshaphat sit back and not stop his “friend” from signing his death warrant by marching off to war?

Read 2 Chronicles 18:1-8

Watch out, Jehoshaphat! You’ve just encountered a “slippery slope” in your association with Ahab. The Chronicler hasn’t told us anything about Israel’s King Ahab, but in 1 Kings 16-22 you can read more about King Ahab. In a nutshell, he was married to Jezebel, and her influence was great in persuading Ahab to abandon God and establish Baal worship in Israel. We know how God feels about disloyalty!

So far, at least, the story seems harmless. These kings were, after all, in-laws since two of their children had married. We get a clue that things are not all that they seem when the text says Ahab was “enticing” Jehoshaphat with such an elaborate feast.