How does 2 Chronicles 18:22 connect with God's truthfulness in Numbers 23:19? Setting the Scene • Numbers 23:19: “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” • 2 Chronicles 18:22: “So now behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.” • The apparent tension: How can the God who “should not lie” send a “lying spirit”? God’s Truthfulness Defined • God’s character: unchanging truth (Psalm 119:160; Titus 1:2). • His word stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). • He cannot contradict Himself (Hebrews 6:18). 2 Chronicles 18:22 – What Actually Happened • King Ahab seeks prophetic approval for war; 400 prophets give a flattering message. • Micaiah reveals a heavenly council scene where a spirit volunteers to entice Ahab through lies (v. 18–21). • The LORD permits the plan, then exposes it through Micaiah’s prophecy—so Ahab hears the truth but rejects it. Reconciling the Two Passages • God remains truthful: He discloses the presence of the lying spirit through Micaiah. • The lie originates with the spirit and the false prophets, not with God’s own mouth. • God’s sovereign permission of deception is an act of judgment on those who despise truth (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Romans 1:24-25). • At no point does God deceive the innocent; He warns, then lets hardened hearts reap the consequences (Proverbs 1:24-31). Key Insights • Divine sovereignty: God rules over all spirits, truthful or deceptive (Job 1:6-12). • Human responsibility: Ahab could have heeded Micaiah’s warning; his ruin results from willful unbelief (James 1:14-15). • Harmony with Numbers 23:19: – God’s own words are always true. – When He employs a lying spirit, He transparently tells His servant and thus maintains perfect truthfulness. – His declared judgment (“disaster against you”) is precisely fulfilled, proving His reliability. Takeaways for Today • Trust Scripture’s consistency: apparent contradictions invite deeper study, not doubt. • Rejecting revealed truth opens a door to deception; receive God’s warnings humbly (John 3:19-21). • God’s promises of salvation in Christ are as certain as His judgments—He speaks and acts in perfect fidelity (2 Corinthians 1:20). |
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