Despots, Minions, and Truth-Tellers
Our case study, Ahab (not the whaler, but the seventh king of the northern tribes of Israel) was a despicable human being and a lousy ruler. He and his supermodel wife worshipped the false gods of promiscuity and profligacy. He did some good by fortifying some cities and benefiting the national economy. But the rest of his capricious and idolatrous twenty-two-year rule was a disaster that is said to have been the worst yet of his predecessors, each dreadful in their own right. Here’s why and why it matters today, in our personal lives, our current nation, and its leaders.
FECKLESS DESPOTS
Ahab was “religious” in a manner of speaking. Jezebel’s religion, the worship of Asherah, was more about sex than spirituality. Its worship was driven by the goddess and her cult of sacred prostitution. It is interesting how many men then and now who are at the top rung of power (political, spiritual, and otherwise) have likewise become crazed with sex and a dab of misogyny.
History tells the story of many Ahabs who are gifted by God to lead, but who went on to use the gift for their own benefit rather than for those they supposedly serve. When they speak, masses stand at attention. They appear to be “anointed” by a spirit, but certainly not the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, how can we explain Adolf Hitler and others like him who had such denigrating influence over the psyche of others and how they lured their own people into vilifying and murdering foreigners. Ahab was such a king.
He displayed narcissistic behaviors, showing no concern for anyone but himself. Though he was the country’s richest and most powerful man, like a spoiled child, when he was refused a neighbor’s property, he pouted until his wife came to his rescue and had the man murdered. Ahab rejoiced that he got what he didn’t deserve at the expense of one who did.
Let’s narrow our attention now to one scene in Ahab’s sorry kingship. You can find it in 1 Kings chapter 22.
In the final year of his evil reign, Ahab decided to reconquer a region that had been lost to the Syrians. He asked King Jehoshaphat of the southern tribes to help him, who was more than willing if they could first consult a prophet of God. Ahab had a whole cadre of “prophets” at his beck and call, most likely ones devoted to Asherah. They were sycophants who always told the king what he wanted to hear. So, when he asked them if he and his army should attack, in unison all four hundred of his fake prophets said, “Yes. Go. You’ll be successful!” (Spoiler Alert: It didn’t quite work out that way.)
Ahabs aren’t really looking for truthful counsel. They don’t want advice from anyone. They just want people to tell them what they want to hear, and if they don’t, they get rid of them. Ahab controlled the narrative, and because these guys were under his thumb, he expected them to toe the line and give him the go-ahead to do what he wanted.
“Truth” was what Ahab said it was. Full stop. All outlying opinions were summarily squelched. Like all self-respecting despots, he depended on fear, intimidation and threats to get people to go along with his self-aggrandizing agenda. Everyone was terrified of the consequences of speaking truth to his unquestioned authority. You don’t cross people like him unless you’re willing to lose everything, including your head.
Like all tyrants, who threaten the people who refuse to show up and cheer at their rallies, Ahabs always have their cowed minions. Desirous of the appearance of religious credibility, Ahab called on his four hundred so-called prophet enablers who were afraid to say no to him. Then he could say, “See this huge crowd? They all agree with me! This must be the will of God.”
“There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court and detest the one who tells the truth.” (Amos 5:10)
FLATTERING MINIONS
These four hundred “prophets” appear to be the same ones that Jezebel brought to Mount Carmel to face off with Elijah. When Elijah won the contest, he had the priests of Baal executed but left the four hundred of Asherah. We’re told they “ate at Jezebel’s table,” which means they were on her payroll.
In his own deepfake move, Ahab brought these four hundred faux prophets from Jezebel’s staff for a photo op in order to give the impression to the people that he possessed a genuine religious conviction. To curry support and control the masses, Ahabs like to make an appearance of spirituality. Courting the religious vote is Politics 101 and fundamental to the success of many a politician. Learn a few key spiritual phrases, invite to your table some prominent religious leaders who crave the limelight, and you’re well on your way to the power you crave.
Ahab had no real concern for the ability of these men to hear from the true God and tell him what he should do. He just wanted to be able to sell to his military that he got the go-ahead from the religious right. Oh, and just to reinforce the lie that he was a God person, he named all three of his sons after Yahweh. Pretty cute trick, huh?
Proof that they were all under Ahab’s thumb was their monolithic counsel that happened to be just what he wanted to hear. What are the odds of getting four hundred people (especially religious ones) to have the exact same opinion about anything? If he hadn’t paid them or threatened them in some way, you would expect at least a fraction of them to give him contrary advice. But no. They who catered to the king’s every whim, were in lock step with whatever he wanted. This is rule number one for flattering minions.
Sycophants like these lean into the safer option of going along with the crowd. Going against the grain risks social status, not to mention sure career suicide. Ahabs know how to take advantage of the mentality of the mob. They find it easy to get people to violate, if not mutilate their conscience in order to follow the crowd.
The king “hated” the truth and the truth-telling prophet of God (Micaiah). If he wanted the truth, he wouldn’t have sent for his lying prophets who were under the spell of a “lying spirit.” To Ahabs, the truth is not the point. What’s true is what they say it is.
After hearing their false prediction of victory, Jehoshaphat (the good king in the story) asked Ahab (the bad one) if there were any actual prophets of God around. Only one came to mind, someone Ahab hated because he never could convince him to cow to his will. Jehoshaphat insisted: “Get him.” The truth may hurt, but it always helps us in some way.
“These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12)
FAITHFUL TRUTH-TELLERS
The only time we hear of the truth-telling prophet Micaiah in the Bible is here (and in the Chronicles version of the same story). While we know the names, reputations, and stories of the likes of Isaiah or Daniel or Jonah, Micaiah is to us a total unknown. But he didn’t seem to care. A lot of preachers, prophets, and politicians crave notoriety, to live in the limelight. But this unsung prophet had no such concern. His mission was to tell the truth and take his lumps for it. The last time we hear of him he’s carted off to life in prison. Ahab’s cronies get a bonus in pay while Micaiah rots in the palace dungeon.
He was, as is common in these matters, outnumbered four hundred to one! There was Micaiah and then there was Ahab’s full roster of lying prophets. It’s not uncommon when phonies outnumber the faithful.
At first, Micaiah sarcastically parroted the same advice of the four hundred, which Ahab immediately recognized: “Didn’t I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me!” Good for whom? Ahabs define what’s good and everyone is expected under threat of retaliation to tag along. It’s his country. Everyone else just plays bit parts in his story. This is the way of Ahabs.
But then bravely, the prophet burst out with the truth! He predicted total defeat to the army and death to the king. In contrast to the four hundred fakes, he had the courage to cross the king and risk losing everything. “Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.” Micaiahs are ready and willing to die for the truth.
In contrast to Ahab’s bootlicking, money-grubbing, minions, Micaiahs are non-profit prophets. They have no concern for notoriety or a seat at Ahab’s table. They don’t preach for financial gain. Their assignment is to speak truth to power without payment, pretense, or presumption.
People-pleasing prophets abound, while, for obvious reasons, courageous truth-telling ones are in short supply. Ronald Reagan said, “Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid.” The Apostle said if he were trying to please people, he would not be a servant of Christ, for Christ’s servants aim to please one Person above all others (Galatians 1:10).
The cowardly refuse to go against the grain and risk losing their comfy clerical positions and social rank. Come what may, brave men and women are ready to suffer for the truth. Which are you?
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Do you see any Ahabs in our world today?How much do you think for yourself versus succumbing to group think?Which matters more to you, the truth or your comfort and security?What/who do you live for? Can you prove it?“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
