The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” (1 Kings 22:8a)
To whom have you given permission to speak truth into your life? King Ahab only gave permission to those who would speak positively of him and his future – he was more interested in hearing what he wanted to hear than he was in hearing what was true. As a result, he silenced the voice of the one prophet who had the courage to be honest with him.
If we’re honest with each other for a few moments, can’t we all admit that there are times when it’s easier to listen to the voices of people who tell us what we want to hear than it is to listen to what’s true? When someone tells us what we don’t want to hear, we can be quick to come up with excuses for why we shouldn’t listen to the advice being given.
In the case of Ahab, he was certain that Micaiah didn’t like him and that what he had to say was of little or no value. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Micaiah was committed to telling Ahab whatever the Lord had to say; it’s just that Ahab didn’t want to listen.
The next time someone tells you something that you don’t want to hear, don’t write him or her off. You never know how God might be speaking through that person to you.
Father, give me a humble heart that is willing to listen to the words of even those whom I don’t like. Give me discernment to know when wisdom is coming from You and when it’s not, and keep me from shutting out voices of truth in my life. Likewise, give me courage to speak truth to others, knowing that I want them to speak truth to me.
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