Random Means, Sovereign God
2/3/26 Bible Thought (1 Kings 22)
Main Idea: The promises and plans of a sovereign God are inescapable.
A Look at the Text:
Battle was on the horizon again between Israel and Syria. Only this time, Israel was on the offensive. Ahab was determined to take back the city of Ramoth-gilead (1 Kings 22:3). He even got the help of Jehoshaphat, a righteous king from the southern nation of Judah.
Jehoshaphat just had one request: First, they must inquire of Yahweh (1 Kings 22:5).
A total of 400 prophets showed up on the scene. However, there was something off about these guys. They prophesied in the name of the Lord (Adonai, a more generic Hebrew word for Lord), not in the name of the LORD (Yahweh, God’s personal name). Even more, they spoke of good things to come (1 Kings 22:6).
Jehoshaphat was skeptical. So he asked for another prophet of Yahweh, and we are introduced to a guy by the name of Micaiah, who had consistently spoken evil to Ahab in the past.
Every word was unanimously favorable regarding the upcoming battle, even the initial word of Micaiah. However, Ahab must have known something was wrong. Whether it was the tone of his voice or his body language (the Scripture does not say), Ahab knew that Micaiah must have been sarcastically following the pattern of the other prophets.
Sadly for Ahab, the Lord had decreed disaster against him (1 Kings 22:20,23). In fact, all of his—namely Ahab’s—prophets were subjected to a lying spirit sent from Yahweh’s council!
God had purposed the destruction of Ahab. The means were irrelevant.
God’s plan was going to come to fruition. And yet, Ahab was given a glimpse of this. Essentially, he was offered an opportunity to repent. He was told the battle was going to lead to his demise, and yet he went anyway.
He tried to escape God’s decree by having the Syrians target Jehoshaphat instead. Yet, while he could hide from earthly commanders, he couldn’t hide from the Lord of Hosts. For there was a “certain man” whom we know nothing about, who drew his bow “at random” and struck the king of Israel in a specifically vulnerable place in his armor (1 Kings 22:34).
In the eyes of man, it was a lucky shot on a random soldier—in the eyes of God, it was the fulfillment of His judgment upon a rebellious king.
Ahab had many opportunities to turn from his idols, himself being chief of them, and to turn to the living God. Yet he refused. His life ended tragically, and his blood was licked up by dogs just as promised (1 Kings 21:19; 22:38).
Bringing it Home
Ahab is a sad, tragic example of someone hellbent on their own destruction.
That is ultimately the story of everyone who rejects God’s truth. Ahab rejected the Word of the Lord in favor of what he wanted to hear. He didn’t like Micaiah as a prophet because he never promised good things, but shouldn’t we yearn to hear what God is actually saying?
For, at the end of the day, God’s will will be done, no matter how much we might try to run. His plans are irrevocable. His promises are sure. His decrees are inescapable. Seemingly lucky shots of random arrows from random guys will always hit when they’re directed by the same hand that fashioned the stars.
The question for us is: Will we soften our hearts to His Word and humble ourselves before Him? Will we believe what He says and take it seriously, even if, and especially if, it isn’t what we want to hear? God offers mercy, but we must have ears that hear.
Challenge:
Does my heart long for truth?
You can't run from God. Get on board. Just maybe not on a chariot, lol.