How should believers respond when faced with misleading counsel, as in 2 Chronicles 18:20? Setting the Scene 2 Chronicles 18:20: “Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD.” King Ahab surrounded himself with prophets who told him exactly what he wanted to hear. Their smooth assurances sounded spiritual, yet they concealed judgment. The lone dissenting voice—Micaiah—unmasked the deception. From this account we learn how to navigate misleading counsel today. Recognizing the Danger of Misleading Counsel • It can come cloaked in religious language (v. 5). • It often agrees with our natural desires (v. 3). • It may be popular or unanimous (v. 12). • Behind it can lurk spiritual forces of deception (Ephesians 6:12; Revelation 12:9). Tests for Discernment • Alignment with Scripture – Acts 17:11: the Bereans “examined the Scriptures daily to see if these teachings were true.” – Isaiah 8:20: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” • Witness of the Holy Spirit – 1 John 4:1: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” • Fruit Inspection – Matthew 7:15-20: good trees bear good fruit; bad trees, bad fruit. • Character of the Counselor – Proverbs 13:20: “He who walks with the wise will become wise.” – 2 Timothy 4:3-4 warns of teachers who cater to itching ears. Steps for Faithful Response 1. Pause and pray for insight—James 1:5. 2. Compare every word with the whole counsel of God—Ps 119:105. 3. Seek confirmation from mature, godly believers—Prov 15:22. 4. Be willing to stand alone if necessary—Josh 24:15; Micaiah did (2 Chron 18:13). 5. Reject counsel that excuses sin or contradicts clear commands—Gal 1:8-9. 6. Act only when peace and obedience align—Col 3:15; John 14:21. 7. Stay teachable, ready to adjust when God’s truth confronts personal preference—Prov 19:20. Examples to Imitate • Joseph resisted Potiphar’s wife despite pressure—Gen 39:9. • Daniel refused the king’s food, choosing God’s way—Dan 1:8. • Peter and John answered, “We must obey God rather than men!”—Acts 5:29. Key Takeaways • Majority opinion is no guarantee of truth. • God’s Word is the unchanging standard; every counsel must bow to it. • Discerning believers cultivate Scripture saturation, Spirit sensitivity, and godly fellowship. • Faithful obedience may isolate us for a moment, but it secures God’s favor for eternity. |
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