Is God a Liar? 1 Kings 22 in Context (Part 1)

1 Kings 22 tells the story of Ahab’s final battle and death at the hands of the Syrians. Just before Ahab goes up to Ramoth Gilead with Jehoshaphat in v 29 there is an interesting scene that has been the subject of much scholarly discussion. According to v 10 Ahab and Jehoshaphat were sitting at the gate of Samaria and 400 prophets were prophesying before them and telling them that the Lord would deliver Ramoth Gilead into Ahab’s hand (v 6). But at the request of Jehoshaphat another prophet named Micaiah was brought before the two kings. He initially echoed what the other prophets had said but when pressed by Ahab told him the truth – Israel would be defeated and Ahab would die (v 17). Beginning in v 19 Micaiah then provided a rare behind-the-scenes look at what happened in the heavenly realm:

And Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-Gilead?’ And one said this while another said that. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD and said, ‘I will entice him.’ And the LORD said to him, ‘How?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You are to entice him and also prevail. Go and do so.’ Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the LORD has proclaimed disaster against you.” (vv 19-23)

One of the big questions this scene raises is: how can God be involved in deception? How can God deceive Ahab so that he will go up to Ramoth in Gilead and die? Is God a liar who actively plots Ahab’s death by means of deception?

While I don’t claim to have a full explanation for all the details of this intriguing scene, I do want to point out a couple of things. First, as scholars have noted, it is important to remember that God actually informs Ahab of the deception and of the consequences of going up to Ramoth Gilead before Ahab goes into battle. If God had actually wanted to deceive Ahab he obviously never would have done this because it would have made the initial deception pointless. By telling Ahab about the deception God was instead clearly showing Ahab that his prophets were liars and that he should not listen to them. In this way God was actually giving Ahab a chance to avoid the disaster that would befall him if he chose to go up. Rather than being a mean God intent on destroying Ahab through questionable means, a closer look at the text thus shows a loving God who is trying to save Ahab from disaster and certain death.

Yet the question remains why God chose this particular way of dealing with Ahab. Could he not have simply told Ahab not to go up? Why does he involve himself with deception?

(To be continued)