2 Chronicles 18 tells the story of a foolish alliance between good King Jehoshaphat of Judah and wicked King Ahab of Israel. Jehoshaphat allowed Ahab to talk him into going to war against Ramoth-Gilead. Before they went to war, however, they decided to gather 400 prophets to see if they should go.
All the prophets but one told them they would have success. Only one prophet, Micaiah, was true to YAHWEH and prophesied the defeat of this combined military operation.
Despite God’s warning through Micaiah, the kings decide to go ahead with it anyway.
As foolish as that was, Jehoshaphat allowed Ahab to talk him into even more foolishness. “Then the king of Israel [Ahab] and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-Gilead. But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.’ So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.” [vs 28-29 HCSB]
I can understand the arrogance of kings, after all 400 prophets were prophesying success and only one was calling for defeat. What I can’t understand is the seeming foolishness that overtook the usually wise Jehoshaphat.
It makes no sense to me why godly, usually sensible, Jehoshaphat allowed Ahab to talk him into wearing royal robes and displaying himself as king during the battle while Ahab disguised himself as a common soldier. Doesn’t he realize that the soldiers are going to be on the lookout for the commander-in-chief? Strike him, and the armies will flee.
That is exactly what happens, they go right for Jehoshaphat, but when he cries out, Yahweh draws the soldiers away from him and saves him. Ahab, even though disguised, wasn’t so blessed. “A man drew his bow without taking special aim and struck the king of Israel through the joints of his armor…. Then he died at sunset.” [2 Chronicles 18:33-34 HCSB]
Father, even in the shadows of our own foolishness, You answer from Your holy heaven and save. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
