What is Abide? | Listen to this Episode | Watch this Episode

This week’s Abide comes from the passage in the Our Daily Bread devotional for Monday 13 May, which is 2 Chronicles 18:9-16.

Before we read the passage, let me help set the scene by summarising the first few verses.

King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshephat of Judah are allies, and they’re deciding whether to unite in an attack against a city called Ramoth Gilead. But first, they want to ask God whether the battle will be successful, so they gather together 400 prophets to ask them.

The prophets are unanimous, telling the kings, “You’ll be successful in this battle.” But there’s one prophet called Micaiah who has yet to give his answer, and here’s where we begin in verse 11:

11 All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,” they said, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”

12 The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favourably.”

13 But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what my God says.”

14 When he arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I not?”

“Attack and be victorious,” he answered, “for they will be given into your hand.”

15 The king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”

16 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.’”

Did you catch that? The first time he’s asked, Micaiah gives the king the same answer that all the other prophets have, perhaps out of fear. But when he’s prompted and given a second chance to speak honestly, he risks everything and says what the king doesn’t want to hear; that the battle won’t be successful.

I admire the guts it took Micaiah to speak the truth, even when it went against 400 other people. We might not ever be put on the spot before two kings, but I know we’ve all faced the pressure to conform to the majority at some point.

When was the last time you were with friends whose conversation turned less-than-savoury? Were they gossiping, or tearing someone else down? Did you say something, or stay quiet? Or how many times do you feel afraid to stand up for your faith when you’re the only Christian in your friend group or workplace?

I know I personally struggle with confrontation. I find it easier to go along with people and not “rock the boat”. It’s hard to feel like the only one speaking truth when everyone is against you.

When I was 13, there was a boy in my class who was often picked on by other kids. One day during our lunch break, someone punched him in the face. He sat on the ground covering his face while others gathered around laughing at him — my friends included.

My heart raced watching him and hearing everyone’s taunts, but I couldn’t pluck up the courage to stand up for him; I didn’t want to be the only one in the crowd who came to his defence. So I watched silently and did nothing, willing someone else to be brave enough to stand out from the crowd.

But no one did, and the school bell rang. I missed my chance.I sometimes think of that day, and what might have happened if I’d had the courage to stand out from the crowd.

As Christians, our message for others can be wildly unpopular. Although we can share with others the joy of salvation, it often comes at a cost, and plenty of people won’t like what we have to say. People don’t want to hear that we’re all sinners in need of saving; they don’t want to be confronted with the consequences of their own life choices.

One way to engage with the application of a Bible passage is to imagine a situation in life where we can apply it. So why don’t you take a moment to imagine a time this week when you might feel tempted to “slip into the crowd”?

Perhaps you’ll be standing around the staff room while people swap stories from the weekend. When you’re asked what you did, will you say you went to church? Or perhaps you can imagine catching up with friends for coffee this week. Imagine they’re saying unkind things about someone who isn’t there — will you join in, or confront your friends?

When we feel afraid to speak the truth or stand up for what’s right, which I know we all will, I hope we’ll remember Micaiah choosing to stand before two kings and defy 400 prophets to share what God had spoken to him.