by Logan Ames
Without a doubt, one of the most iconic movie scenes in history comes from A Few Good Men. Even if you haven’t seen it, you probably know the scene. Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee, the attorney played by Tom Cruise, has the brazen, corrupt Colonel Nathan R. Jessup, played by Jack Nicholson, on the witness stand as he tries to get to the bottom of what took place that led to the death of a young Marine stationed in Cuba under Jessup’s command. As they go back and forth playing their legal “games," the conversation escalates to Lt. Kaffee emphatically demanding the truth. Colonel Jessup screams back, “You can’t handle the truth!” Jessup goes on to express his displeasure with those who enjoy the freedom he provides but constantly question the manner in which he provides it.
There is some truth in Jessup’s words. As we gather this Memorial Day weekend for food, fun, and family fellowship, it’s necessary for us to stop and honor the sacrifices of those who have given everything in order to provide us with the freedom we enjoy year-round. As I personally think about those who have given their lives for me, the list of course starts with Jesus but includes so many whose names I’ll never even know. Those men and women were willing to run toward danger and do jobs that so many others are unwilling to do. They deserve to be called “heroes” because they stood up to fear when so many others could not or would not. Some of them even experienced opposition from their own countrymen as those who opposed military action hurled their insults and frustrations directly at the soldiers who were just trying to serve their nation. They are heroes because they went against the grain.
The heroes of our faith that we’ve been reviewing in this series ought to be seen the same way. What made them stand out in most cases was their willingness to go against the grain, against what was popular, or even against what was comfortable in order to be counted as faithful and obedient to the Lord and his will. This week, we look at a man who was briefly mentioned in the post on Jehoshaphat earlier in the series. Hebrews 11:36 says that some of the anonymously faithful faced “chains and imprisonment." This might not seem like it’s as harrowing as what so many others went through. I’ve been in multiple prisons doing ministry in my life and I’ve yet to see someone being tortured or even greatly mistreated. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but we have to understand that what we know as imprisonment today in our country is far from what it was like for those who were hated during biblical times.
One man who suffered greatly and was imprisoned for following the Lord and going against what was popular was the prophet Micaiah. We don’t know a lot about him since his presence in the Bible is short-lived, but we do know that he was faithful and bold. His story is part of the story of the evil King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah. It is found in multiple places, but I’ll be looking at the account in 2 Chronicles 18. King Ahab wanted to go to war and capture a city called Ramoth Gilead, but he wanted King Jehoshaphat to join forces and help him. Jehoshaphat wouldn’t do it unless Ahab first sought the counsel of the Lord (2 Chronicles 18:4). Ahab then summoned four hundred men who all said that God would give the city into Ahab’s hand. This somehow prompted Jehoshaphat to ask if there were any ACTUAL prophets of the Lord whom they could ask. Something about the way those four hundred men carried themselves made it somewhat obvious that they were merely “yes” men who couldn’t have cared less what God was actually saying. Maybe they were scared of what the king would do if they gave him bad news (we’ll see in a bit why they had reason for this fear). Maybe they had originally been true prophets but had abandoned the Lord in order to do what was popular.
Ahab told Jehoshaphat that the one prophet left through whom they could inquire of the Lord was Micaiah, but Ahab admitted right off the bat that he hated Micaiah because he only prophecies bad things about Ahab. This shows us what Micaiah was known for. Four hundred other “prophets” were known for saying whatever pleased the evil king. But one man went against the grain and was known for speaking the truth about an evil man who disobeyed the Lord. It’s not that he had it out for Ahab. Prophecy is not always a mystery. If a man does bad things, worships idols, marries a foreign woman who makes it her mission to murder prophets of the Lord, and continues to reject God completely, how can any prophet worth his salt suggest that such a man has a bright future and will be blessed by God? Micaiah was simply the only one who was willing to say what was TRUE.
When Ahab sent for him, Micaiah was brought out by officials. This, combined with his RETURN to the officials at the end of the story in verse 25, reveals that Micaiah was most likely already in prison before he was summoned by Ahab. It’s no wonder so many of the other prophets were afraid to deliver bad news to Ahab. If he didn’t like what you said, he just sent you off to prison until he felt like letting you go. As Micaiah is summoned, Ahab’s messenger urges him to prophesy in agreement with the other four hundred, but Micaiah declares that he can only speak as the Lord directs (vv. 12-13). It was preposterous in his eyes to think that a mere man can change or control the words of the immortal God. It wasn’t even about what Micaiah desired. I’m sure he desired to say something that pleased the king so that his own suffering would end, but he didn’t even see that as an option.
Micaiah’s first response to Ahab was, “Attack and be victorious," but Ahab reminded him that he wants the truth (vv. 14-15). This tells us that Micaiah’s initial response was likely very sarcastic. Something about it told Ahab that he wasn’t being serious. It’s ironic that Ahab demanded the truth because he had shown for his entire reign as king that he couldn’t handle it! Micaiah could’ve channeled his inner-Jessup and blasted Ahab for demanding something that he couldn’t accept deep down in places he doesn’t talk about at parties. Instead, Micaiah just went right back to speaking the hard truth he always did and declared that Ahab would be killed when he went into battle. Another prophet, Zedekiah, slapped Micaiah in the face, because when you can’t handle the truth, you resort to violence. Ahab then ordered Micaiah back to prison and ordered that he be given only bread and water until Ahab would return safely (vv. 25-26). The NKJV of this passage calls it “the bread and water of affliction," which basically meant that Micaiah would be stuck in prison and only receiving the bare essentials for the rest of his life.
Ahab’s real problem was with God, yet he couldn’t do anything to get back at God so he took out his frustrations on God’s true servant. Micaiah never wavered in his resolve to be faithful and obedient to God. He responded to Ahab that if he were to ever return safely, that would mean the Lord had not spoken through Micaiah at all (v. 27). Micaiah didn’t worry about the circumstances he faced. He stood his ground on the truth of the Lord’s word and was willing to be judged by whether the prophecy was fulfilled rather than the popular opinion of man. Ahab wanted to inflict as much suffering on Micaiah as he could without killing him, and I know of no evidence that Micaiah ever got out of prison. But the prophecy came true and Ahab was killed in the battle for Ramoth Gilead. Micaiah wasn’t hailed as a hero among his peers, but he certainly was a hero of the faith. As you are reminded of his story, as well as so many others who heroically stood up against evil and went against the grain, be one who is obedient and true to the Lord regardless of personal cost. Be bold. Be courageous. Be a hero.
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