Ahab's wife, Jezebel, on the other hand, is no longer mentioned, so we can assume that she met her demise as prophesied. That would explain why her influence was no longer there.
Israeli experienced peace for about three years. Before that point, Israel and Judah had been constantly fighting each other, but now, king Ahab decided to fight alongside Judah in order to battle a common enemy of theirs - the Armeans...
(1 Kings 22:1-4) Three years passed without war between Aram and Israel. 2 In the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3 Now the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we are still doing nothing to take it out of the hand of the king of Aram?” 4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
After agreeing to work together, King Jehoshaphat of Judah suggested they ask God for guidance.
Ahab called his prophets. Remember, Jezebel's prophets of Baal had been killed off. But it seemed like Ahab preferred being surrounded by people who told him what to do, or told him what he wanted to hear. Even though these were prophets of God, they were on king Ahab's payroll and never really consulted with God...
(1 Kings 22:5-6) Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the Lord.” 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”
(1 Kings 22:7-15) But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of him?” 8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” 9 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah son of Imlah.” 10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are consumed.’” 12 All the prophets were prophesying thus, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”
13 Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold now, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 14 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I shall speak.”
15 When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go up and succeed, and the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”
It must have been obvious by his tone of voice and gestures that Micaiah was being sarcastic...
(1 Kings 22:16-18) Then the king said to him, “How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 17 So he said,
“I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep which have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each of them return to his house in peace.’”
18 Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”
Now we get a glimpse into what happens in heaven - a kind of behind-the-scenes scenario...
(1 Kings 22:19-23) Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. 20 The Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this while another said that. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 The Lord said to him, ‘How?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You are to entice him and also prevail. Go and do so.’ 23 Now therefore, behold, the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the Lord has proclaimed disaster against you.”
Ahab still did not want to believe the truth - and so - he gave the deceiving spirit precedence...
(1 Kings 22:24-28) Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord pass from me to speak to you?” 25 Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day when you enter an inner room to hide yourself.” 26 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son; 27 and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely.”’” 28 Micaiah said, “If you indeed return safely the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Listen, all you people.”
Even though Ahab tried to outwit the prophesy by disguising himself (probably just in case it WAS true), God's word still happened as He said it would...
(1 Kings 22:29-40) So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. 30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle. 31 Now the king of Aram had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with small or great, but with the king of Israel alone.” 32 So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely it is the king of Israel,” and they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
34 Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the fight; for I am severely wounded.” 35 The battle raged that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot in front of the Arameans, and died at evening, and the blood from the wound ran into the bottom of the chariot. 36 Then a cry passed throughout the army close to sunset, saying, “Every man to his city and every man to his country.”
37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria. 38 They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood (now the harlots bathed themselves there), according to the word of the Lord which He spoke. 39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did and the ivory house which he built and all the cities which he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 40 So Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son became king in his place.
From this we see:- God is above all and in control of both the angels and the demons
- for now, demons are allowed to approach God's throne
- demons cannot make a move without God allowing it to happen
- demons, demonic activity and sin are not part of God's will, but God allows evil to happen and in those moments God carries out His will
- demons bring about disaster
Personal experience: in our church before we had moved away, an issue had come up. It was definitely a real concern and needed to be addressed because it was going against the church's constitution and doctrines.
NOT to justify my actions at all...
I had been praying about the situation and suddenly felt that I needed to do something about it. After all, I had been a witness to a few of the issues. And so I acted on my feelings.
When my husband got home, and I told him what I had begun to do, he was quite angry with me (justifiably so). First of all, I had acted without waiting for an answer from God. And secondly, I had acted without talking with my husband, because as a husband and wife team, my actions reflect on him, and vice versa. I immediately apologized to my husband, then quickly called up the people I had just spoken to and apologized, and then - I called up the person/s it was regarding to apologize and let them know of my personal concerns.
THAT situation which I created had been quickly reconciled. The other situation which was still a huge concern took about a year before it was completely resolved. Looking back at the big picture, I can see how God had to work in the hearts of many, many people, including mine.
My first big lesson was - it was not "MY" church - it is God's church! He will protect it! Second lesson was - pray and search the scriptures before acting. And not just search the scriptures regarding the other people's actions, but search the scriptures as to how I am supposed to react and act!
Thinking back to the moments leading up to my wrong actions - I had been SO convinced that it was the right thing to do. It seemed so very clear. But then considering what the Bible says - I can clearly see that it was wrong! So why did I feel that my actions were so justified??? Perhaps a deceiving spirit??? And even if there had been, it was still my choice based on what I wanted to hear... and not what God wanted, and certainly not based on what God says in His word.
Today's takeaway: we do not know if Ahab is in heaven or not. THAT is between him and God. We saw how he humbled himself when he heard the first prophecy about how he was going to die. But years later, with the prophecies mentioned above, Ahab only believed what he wanted to believe, and never repented of that. Even after the prophecy and vision about how he was being deceived. He even had another king right there with him to offer a second opinion!
What this all shows us is that God is fair and just, and will not withhold the truth. No matter how evil someone is behaving, God gives everyone an opportunity to turn to Him for salvation and guidance. The truth is right there in front of us to see and hear - IF we choose to want to see and hear it...
(Proverbs 28:26) He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.
(Proverbs 12:15) The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
(Proverbs 27:17) Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
(Proverbs 11:14) Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory.
(Matthew 18:19-20) “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
(Proverbs 18:12-21) Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but humility goes before honor. 13 He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him. 14 The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but as for a broken spirit who can bear it? 15 The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. 16 A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. 17 The first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him. 18 The cast lot puts an end to strife and decides between the mighty ones. 19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a citadel. 20 With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; he will be satisfied with the product of his lips. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
(James 3:17-18) But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
(Philippians 4:8) Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is [a]lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
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