Be Confident When You Hear From God
When he arrived, the king asked him, "Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or not?"
. . . Then Micaiah answered, "I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, 'These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.' "
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?"
Micaiah continued, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting on His throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around Him on His right and on His left. And the LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?'
"One suggested this, and another that. Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said, 'I will entice him.'
" 'By what means?' the LORD asked, " 'I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,' he said,
" 'You will succeed in enticing him,' said the LORD. 'Go and do it.'
"So now the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you."
. . . The king of Israel then ordered . . . "Put this fellow in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.' "
Micaiah declared, "If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me." Then he added, "Mark my words, all you people." I Kings 22:15-28
. . . Then Micaiah answered, "I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, 'These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.' "
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?"
Micaiah continued, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting on His throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around Him on His right and on His left. And the LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?'
"One suggested this, and another that. Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said, 'I will entice him.'
" 'By what means?' the LORD asked, " 'I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,' he said,
" 'You will succeed in enticing him,' said the LORD. 'Go and do it.'
"So now the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you."
. . . The king of Israel then ordered . . . "Put this fellow in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.' "
Micaiah declared, "If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me." Then he added, "Mark my words, all you people." I Kings 22:15-28
Standing up for the truth of God's word can be quite hazardous. In the face of four hundred lying prophets, Micaiah stood up for the truth. His stand landed him in jail with only bread and water for a meal. The king of Israel arrogantly declared that he would return safely from battle and determine Micaiah's fate. What he did not realize was that, unlike the lying prophets, Micaiah had spoken the truth from God and that the king's fate was already sealed.
With that confidence, Micaiah boldly declared, "If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me . . . Mark my words."
There is nothing more reassuring than knowing that you have heard directly from the LORD. There might be threats and opposition. But if you are confident that you have heard from God, then stand your ground in faith because in the end, God will vindicate you. Be confident when you hear from the LORD. Don't be shaky even when you are castigated because God will always stand by what He has spoken. You will never be put to shame when you stand upon His word.
With that confidence, Micaiah boldly declared, "If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me . . . Mark my words."
There is nothing more reassuring than knowing that you have heard directly from the LORD. There might be threats and opposition. But if you are confident that you have heard from God, then stand your ground in faith because in the end, God will vindicate you. Be confident when you hear from the LORD. Don't be shaky even when you are castigated because God will always stand by what He has spoken. You will never be put to shame when you stand upon His word.
Prayer: Lord, please help me to confidently stand upon your word; knowing that you always vindicate those who put their trust in you. Amen.