Ahab's death

So we were just getting to know Ahab, and today, he dies. Turns out the prophet he hated was right. Micaiah was probably pulled out of jail in order to prophesy for Ahab and Jehoshaphat and was promptly returned there when he became the bearer of bad news. The kings ignored the word of God and went into battle at Ramoth-Gilead. Evidently, this was one of the towns that Ben-Hadad should have returned to Israel as part of the treaty that spared his life in 1 Kings 20:34. Though it is not entirely clear why Jehoshaphat would have agreed to this unholy alliance, aside from the marriage of their children, participation in the battle made some strategic sense, since Ramoth-Gilead was only 40 miles away from Judah.

Ahab displayed his selfish and cowardly nature by disguising himself but recommending that Jehoshaphat remain in his kingly attire. He hoped to go incognito into battle and put the target on Jehoshaphat's back. But as only God could work out, he was shot in just the right spot by a random arrow. And after bleeding out in the chariot, his blood was licked up by dogs by the pool in Samaria, as had been predicted by Elijah.

Ahab was killed, but Jehoshaphat was also held accountable for ignoring the prophet's words. 2 Chronicles 19:1-2 records the words of Jehu the seer who noted that the Lord was angry with Jehoshaphat for aligning himself with the wicked likes of Ahab. Jehoshaphat's response was to immediately embark on a tour of his territory, instructing the people to return to the God of their ancestors. His humble reaction to God's reprimand, as opposed to Ahab's treatment of Micaiah, is probably what spared him any consequences for his poor decision regarding the battle for Ramoth-Gilead. God is always ready to forgive a heart that is contrite. Remember that he relented on the punishment for Ahab following the murder of Naboth because he humbled himself in repentance and slept in burlap.

The next battle we read about involved Judah and the armies of Moab, Ammon, and Edom. Judah was not a big nation, composed basically of two tribes and a collection of dissenting Jews from Israel. So the attack from three surrounding nations must have been very alarming. Jehoshaphat's words are beautiful. "We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you". God rewards his dependence and trust by utterly decimating the opposing armies before the battle even began.

Tomorrow's reading: 2 Kings 1:1-18, 3:1-27; 1 Kings 22:41-50; 2 Chron. 20:31-37, 21:1-7; 2 Kings 8:16-22