The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Chronicles 18:1-9, “Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab.

2 And some years later he went down to visit Ahab at Samaria. And Ahab slaughtered many sheep and oxen for him and the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.

3 And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And he said to him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the battle.”

4 Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”

5 Then the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.”

6 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of him?”

7 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah, son of Imla.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.”

8 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah, Imla’s son.”

There is no question but that Ahab and Jehoshaphat were friends. And it was largely that friendship that induced them to go to battle against Ramoth-gilead. Their feasting and collaboration drew them more closely together, and Jehoshaphat soon discovered that Ahab was planning a war.

Jehoshaphat, however, insisted on consulting the LORD prior to any activities of a warlike nature. Ahab, it seemed, would have gone to war without consulting anyone; nevertheless, to keep Jehoshaphat onside, he assembled 450 prophets and inquired of them what should be done. To a man, the 450 prophets said, “Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.”

Jehoshaphat was still unsure, so Ahab reluctantly consulted Micaiah, a prophet who never prophesied in favor of Ahab. That tendency is often ours. We ask only those whom we are certain will respond to us in a favorable manner. In effect, those prophets said to the prophet Micaiah, “Please let your word be like one of the 450 favorable for war.”

So, when Micaiah was asked to speak, 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.'” Thus, the thought of war was terminated, and doubtless many lives were spared.

May we always prayerfully consult the LORD regarding what we are to do; and may we follow His leading, knowing that He knows what is best.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.”

– Corrie ten Boom