2 Chronicles 18

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Alliance between Jehoshaphat and Ahab

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Believers sometimes are persuaded by others to make stupid decisions.

  2. Believers sometimes are rescued from the consequences of their stupid decisions.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Remember our random is not God's random.

QUESTIONS

  1. What wrong decision was made by King Jehoshaphat of Judah?

  2. When did Jehoshaphat seek the Lord's will on his alliance with Ahab?

  3. Who was Micaiah?

  4. What stupid decision did Jehoshaphat make next?

  5. Did the Lord rescue Jehoshaphat from his stupid decision?

ANSWERS

  1. Good King Jehoshaphat made a bad decision. He allied himself with wicked King Ahab of the northern kingdom of Israel to go against the Syrians.

  2. Jehoshaphat sought confirmation from the Lord after he had made the alliance with Ahab. Ahab rounded up 400 prophets to confirm this was God's will, but they were false prophets.

  3. Micaiah was a true prophet of the Lord whom Ahab despised, because he never said good things about Ahab! At first Micaiah told Ahab exactly what he wanted to hear, but later told him the truth that Israel would be totally defeated.

  4. King Jehoshaphat kept his wrong alliance with wicked King Ahab. Then he foolishly followed Ahab's advice to go into battle dressed as king, while Ahab disguised himself so he wouldn't get shot at.

  5. Yes, at the last minute Jehoshaphat realized that he was a target and he cried out to the Lord, who delivered him (verse 31).

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Micaiah did not water down the truth when he prophesied before King Ahab. He could have continued telling Ahab only good things for his own wellbeing, but he revealed the whole counsel of God, that Ahab was going to be defeated. Have you ever been tempted to soften the truth when you were teaching God's Word? Have you skipped over the less-pleasant sections of Scripture? Discuss how to have boldness when teaching the whole counsel of God.

  2. Sometimes the Lord is gracious to rescue us from our stupid decisions, as He did Jehoshaphat. Recall a time when you were persuaded by others to make a bad decision, whether through praise, flattery, or pressure. How did that decision play out? Did you turn to the Lord for rescue from that stupid decision, or did you "reap what you had sown" and face the consequences?

CHALLENGE

  1. The stray arrow that killed King Ahab may have seemed like a random event, but nothing is random from the divine perspective. Remember Ephesians 1:11.

KEY VERSES

  • "There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil." 2 Chronicles 18:7

  • "The battle increased that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening; and about the time of sunset he died." 2 Chronicles 18:34

2 Chronicles, Old Testament, TalksRon Reid2 chronicles 18