DID GOD ENTICE AHAB’S DEATH?
An interesting account of the events that led to Ahab’s death is given in the Bible.
Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing on his right and on his left. And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’ “One suggested this, and another that. Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’ “‘By what means?’ the Lord asked.“ ‘I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said. “‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’ “So now the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.” (2Chronicles 18:18-22)
Here we see one of those rare glimpses into the spiritual world where God stands alone exalted in all of creation. Multitudes of spirit beings stand before him and this includes both the good and the bad. God entertains the conversations of the spirits as they bring suggestions before God. Finally, it appears that God allows an evil spirit to initiate the events that led to the death of Ahab on the battlefield. Is God to directly blame for Ahab’s death?
Before interpreting this verse, we should meditate on a key verse in James that talks of the origin of evil.
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15)
It is very clear that God is not the origin of evil because the very definition of God is the antithesis of any evil. Therefore, by his very nature, God cannot entertain evil within him. However, evil is a reality in this world, the origin of evil resting with Satan who initiated rebellion against God. God in his wisdom and justice has chosen not to destroy evil, rather allows the effects of evil to manifest and play out on earth. Mankind as a whole followed Satan when Adam sinned, thereby causing the sinful nature to enter into man. So, there is evil within every man by token of the sinful nature within. This evil within man provides a hook for the army of evil spirits that are active and looking for someone to devour. This hook enables the evil beings to latch on and drag man away to tempt him, give birth to sin and finally lead him to his death.
In Ahab’s case we see this playing out. Does God allow it? Yes. Does God determine the timing of his death? Yes, as he does for any human being here on earth. Is God the reason for Ahab’s darkness and death? No, rather it is Ahab’s own uninhibited inclination for evil that finally found expression in the events leading on to his death. In fact, God also provides Micaiah the prophet to reveal the background reality and gives Ahab an opportunity to repent and escape his death. Ahab did not relent to God and chose death over life. In the midst of all of this, it is reassuring that the loving God still rules and has the final say in all matters on earth. Confusing it is, but also reassuring.
