By Andre Gilbert Nevis Dear Editor, After listening to all that was said during the 2008 budget debate and feeling a bit discouraged, I went to sleep. The next morning I was listening to Radio Paradise and the program “Back to the Bible” came on. Ironically the speaker spoke of the story in the Bible where “Micaiah” warns “Ahab” about disaster. I thought to myself, let me turn this up and listen. The story can be found in 1st Kings Chapter 22: …”6-Ahab sent for about four hundred prophets and asked, “Should I attack the Syrians at Ramoth?”” “Yes!” the prophets answered. “The Lord will help you defeat them.””” 7-But Jehoshaphat said, “Just to make sure, is there another of the LORD’s prophets we can ask?” 8-“We could ask Micaiah son of Imlah,” Ahab said. “But I hate Micaiah. He always has bad news for me.””” “Don’t say that!” Jehoshaphat replied. 9-Then Ahab sent someone to bring Micaiah as soon as possible.” 10-All this time, Ahab and Jehoshaphat were dressed in their royal robes and were seated on their thrones at the threshing place near the gate of Samaria. They were listening to the prophets tell them what the LORD had said.” 11-Zedekiah son of Chenaanah was one of the prophets. He had made some horns out of iron and shouted, “Ahab, the LORD says you will attack the Syrians like a bull with iron horns and wipe them out!”” 12-All the prophets agreed that Ahab should attack the Syrians at Ramoth, and they promised that the LORD would help him defeat them..”” 13-Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah whispered, “Micaiah, all the prophets have good news for Ahab. Now go and say the same thing.”” 14-“I’ll say whatever the living LORD tells me to say,” Micaiah replied.”” 15-Then Micaiah went to Ahab, and Ahab asked, “Micaiah, should I attack the Syrians at Ramoth?”” “Yes!” Micaiah answered. “The LORD will help you defeat them.”””” 16-“Micaiah, I’ve told you over and over to tell me the truth!” Ahab shouted. “What does the LORD really say?””” 17-He answered, “In a vision I saw Israelite soldiers walking around in the hills like sheep without a shepherd to guide them. The LORD said, `This army has no leader. They should go home and not fight.’ ” 18-Ahab turned to Jehoshaphat and said, “I told you he would bring bad news!””” 19-Micaiah replied:””” Listen to this! I also saw the LORD seated on his throne with every creature in heaven gathered around him. 20-The LORD asked, “Who can trick Ahab and make him go to Ramoth where he will be killed?” They talked about it for a while, 21-then finally a spirit came forward and said to the LORD, “I can trick Ahab.””” “How?” the LORD asked.””” 22-“I’ll make Ahab’s prophets lie to him.”” “Good!” the LORD replied. “Now go and do it.”””” 23-This is exactly what has happened, Ahab. The LORD made all your prophets lie to you, and he knows you will soon be destroyed.”” 24-Zedekiah walked up to Micaiah and slapped him on the face. Then he asked, “Do you really think the LORD would speak to you and not to me?””” 25-Micaiah answered, “You’ll find out on the day you have to hide in the back room of some house.”” 26-Ahab shouted, “Arrest Micaiah! Take him to Prince Joash and Governor Amon of Samaria. 27-Tell them to put him in prison and to give him nothing but bread and water until I come back safely.”” 28-Micaiah said, “If you do come back, I was wrong about what the LORD wanted me to say.” Then he told the crowd, “Don’t forget what I said!” …. If you read on you will find out that Micaiah was right, King Ahab was killed in battle. Proverbs 27 says: 1-Don’t brag about tomorrow! Each day brings its own surprises. 2-Don’t brag about yourself– let others praise you. Proverbs 29 says: “Use Good Sense” 1-If you keep being stubborn after many warnings, you will suddenly discover you have gone too far. 2-When justice rules a nation, everyone is glad; when injustice rules, everyone groans. When we look at the sky at night and see that it is red we say “Sailors Delight” for we know the next day will be fair. When we see the sky red in the morning we say “Sailor’s Warning” because we know it means a storm is coming. Does it make sense to see the signs of a storm and not prepare? Refuse to listen to someone who points to the signs and tries to warn us of disaster? Did you know that the truth is usually not the news you want to hear? Truth is always hard to recognise and accept when we lack humility. We need to ask ourselves what the signs suggest. We all know these are serious times and that more serious times are just ahead. However we are human, right? We must exercise free will! The decision is always ours! We decide whether we will listen to the warning, listen to truth or follow King Ahab. Ultimately it is up to us. The story shows that man can be so full of pride that even when warned of danger he refuses to listen. Instead he seeks to destroy the very man who spoke the truth and warned of danger. So what will it be? Will you follow a man who speaks the truth or will you follow a haughty, stubborn King?
