When the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable
In 1 Kings 22 King Jehoshaphat of the line of David found himself manipulated into a military alliance with Ahab king of Israel against the king of Aram (modern Syria). Ahab was a wicked king (1 Kings 21:25). He and his Sidonian (Lebanese) wife Jezebel had spread Baal worship (including human sacrifice) throughout the land of Israel (1 Kings 18:19) and had spilled much blood of YHVH’s prophets and servants (2 Kings 9:7).
Before setting out to war on the Golan Heights, as the two Jewish kings had drawn up their battle plans, Jehoshaphat of David’s lineage felt uneasy and wanted prophetic confirmation from the God of Jacob. Ahab assembled 400 prophets in his court who officially were officially followers of YHVH, and this prophetic guild gave the kings a uniformly positive answer: “Go up, for YHVH will hand it over to the king!” (1 Kings 22:6). “Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. And all the prophets were prophesying before them” (1 Kings 22:10). These four hundred royal prophets had hutzpah and were media-savvy in their communication. They declared total success for Ahab’s military operation.
But Jehoshaphat was still uncomfortable. He had a sneaking suspicion that he was hearing ‘fake prophetic news.’ He asked if perhaps there was a minority prophetic opinion: “Is there no longer a [true] prophet of YHVH here, that we may inquire of him?” Ahab king of Israel admitted that there was one prophet who was never invited to these royal press conferences – Micaiah son of Imlah. Ahab noted with vehemence, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of YHVH, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy anything good regarding me, but only bad” (1 Kings 22:8). Ahab preferred to give the microphone to what he saw as a more jovial and “positive looking” prophetic ministry.
So King Ahab’s bodyguards hauled Micaiah into the royal presence and warned him, “Behold now, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably” (1 Kings 22:13). Micaiah answered gravely, knowing that it could cost him his life, “As YHVH lives, what YHVH says to me, that I shall speak” (1 Kings 22:14).
When Ahab demanded a prophetic word from him, Micaiah said, “Go up and succeed, for YHVH will hand it over to the king!” Evidently Micaiah spoke these words with heavy sarcasm, for Ahab then said to him, “How many times must I make you swear that you will tell me nothing but the truth in the name of YHVH?” Then Micaiah said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd. And YHVH said, ‘These people have no master. Each of them is to return to his house in peace.’” Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy anything good regarding me, but only bad?” (1 Kings 22:15-18).
There has always been a strong pull on God’s spokesmen to ‘speak favorably’ and to share nationally encouraging words, regardless of the truthfulness of those prophetic words. That pull remains strong in our day as well. The desire for positive prophetic words is as old as the Bible. Certainly, Scripture itself teaches that one of the important and valuable characteristics of the prophetic is to strengthen, encourage and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3). But from a God’s-eye perspective, what is important is the ultimate result, the practical effect of the prophetic word. Jonah’s message to Nineveh may have indeed sounded harsh, but its result led to a season of real repentance for the Assyrians. Conversely, what sounds sweet to prophetic consumers’ ears in the short run may lead to audio agony in the long run. Let’s call this commitment to speaking the truth – ‘the Micaiah anointing.’
Fast-food Prophetic
Marshall McLuhan, a Canadian philosopher and communications theorist, spoke of how media culture shapes one’s worldview, perspectives and even one’s values. He coined a famous proverb, “The medium is the message” (in Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man). The speed and ease with which a McDonald’s hamburger appears at the fast-food counter can lead consumers to expect the same service, friendliness and lack of surprise in other areas of life. But the word of God is worlds apart from a fast-food restaurant,
For some believers this weakened expectation can bleed over into spiritual or prophetic areas – wanting a ‘tamed teaching’ or ‘positive prophetic’ ministry – one which will not rock the boat or cause controversy. Some believers accept only teachings and prophetic words which are uniformly upbeat, victorious, devotional and positive. He who develops an appetite for mass-produced look-alike hamburgers, may well end up caving in to a similar cultural/spiritual pressure and end up encouraging the mass production of prophetic words. Like fast-food, the result will be a homogenized ‘product,’ a neutered form of the prophetic – less than authentic in truth and power.
A McDonald’s-style vision for the Last Days
Each one of us may have a personal vision of what the Last Days will look like. Some of us intend to watch on the web as Messiah Yeshua descends onto the Mount of Olives; then we plan to go out and have a Big Mac and talk about that event with friends. For other believers, all these events have a measure of unreality to them – they will probably occur “on a hill far away” – halfway around the globe – whereas normative believers live ‘in the real world.’
There is a fascinating word – ‘abracadabra.’ This term is based on two Aramaic roots – ‘abra’ (‘I will create’) ‘kadabra’ (‘according to that which I speak’). In other words: “I will speak things into existence.” Politicians are certainly tempted to believe that they have the power to create realities out of thin air, but of course, not all election promises come to pass. On June 27, 2025 POTUS Trump stated in the Oval Office the following: “In a few short months, we’ve now achieved peace between India and Pakistan, Israel and Iran and the DRC and Rwanda and, a couple of others also, Serbia [and Kosovo].” Trump had originally declared a ceasefire on June 23, 2025; now this was ‘recreated through speech’ and became a peace treaty.
Yet daily news reports from both various Iranian and Israeli sources indicate that a further outbreak of hostilities between the forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and the IDF is only a matter of time. Peace has definitely not been achieved between Israel and Iran, though it remains an earnest prayer request – one which will be answered in the Lord’s timing.
All in one Accord
Not all that is called ‘Christian’ faithfully represents the heart of Messiah Yeshua. And not everything that is called ‘Evangelical’ communicates Good News. One pertinent example here is how some Evangelicals have become advocates for a US-sponsored plan called ‘the Abraham Accords.’ For more background see our newsletter: https://davidstent.org/strange-bedfellows-in-the-middle-east/.
One of the pillars of that deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set on sinking sand – the Abraham Accords is founded on Israel not reclaiming portions of the Promised Land. At the time of the signing in 2020, Netanyahu acknowledged that Israel’s intention to annex 30% of Judea and Samaria was on “temporary hold.” This contradicted statements from Emirati officials who said that Israel’s dreams were totally “off the table.” Note how mainstream Palestinian leaders view the Abraham Accords: a PLO/Fatah Central Committee member said in February 2024 that the Abraham Accords were “one of the reasons” for the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel. Not too positive a perspective, it seems.
This central pillar of the ‘Abraham Accords’ runs afoul of God’s promise to Abraham, and His prophetic promises to the Jewish people. Though it is true that many in the world ignore or mock these biblical principles, “the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12):
- “YHVH said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, ‘Now raise your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward, and eastward and westward. For all the land which you see I will give to you and to your descendants forever!’” (Genesis 13:14-15)
- “And I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land where you live as a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God” (Genesis 17:8)
- “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever’” (Exodus 32:13)
- “Did You not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land from Your people Israel, and give it to the descendants of Your friend Abraham forever?” (2 Chronicles 20:7)
Not Abrahamic and not according to the Abrahamic Covenant
Why is is this agreement called the ‘Abraham Accords Peace Agreement: Treaty of Peace, Diplomatic Relations and Full Normalization Between the United Arab Emirates and the State of Israel’? Is this America-brokered agreement perhaps a better deal than the Abrahamic Covenant as laid out in Genesis 12:1-3,7; 15:5-18; 17:4-6; 22:16-17; 26:2-4; 27:27-29; 28:12-14; Acts 3:25?
The prophet Joel underscores how soberly YHVH feels about the Land being eternally promised to the people of Jacob: “I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and they have divided up My land” (Joel 3:2).
The prophet Ezekiel speaks into the future, declaring that the descendants of Edom (most who are inaccurately called ‘Palestinians’ today) will be severely judged by the hand of YHVH because of their attempt to seize Judea and Samaria (which they called ‘the West Bank’) and expel the Jewish people from those areas:
- “Since you have had everlasting hostility and have turned over the sons of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their disaster, at the time of the punishment of the end – therefore as I live, declares ADONAI YHVH, I will certainly doom you to bloodshed, and bloodshed will pursue you. Since you have not hated bloodshed, therefore bloodshed will pursue you. I will make Mount Seir a waste and a desolation and I will eliminate from it one who passes through and returns. I will fill its mountains with its slain. Those killed by the sword will fall on your hills, in your valleys, and in all your ravines. I will make you a permanent desolation, and your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am YHVH. Since you have said, ‘These two nations and these two lands will be mine, and we will possess them,’ although YHVH was there, therefore as I live, declares ADONAI YHVH, I will deal with you according to your anger and according to your envy which you displayed because of your hatred for them; so I will make Myself known among them when I judge you. Then you will know that I, YHVH, have heard all your insults which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel saying, ‘They are desolate; they have been given to us as food’” (Ezekiel 35:5-12)
But are the Abraham Accords actually dealing with the flesh-and-blood descendants of Abraham here when they include the United Arab Emirates, or Syria, or Morocco, or much of the West Bank? The surprising answer is ‘No!’ And according to both Bible and history, the majority of Muslims in the world today are neither Arabs nor from descended from Abraham. As well, the majority of Arabs today are not related to Ishmael. In fact, the majority of Emiratis see themselves as not descended from Ishmael but as ‘Qaḥṭāni’ (‘pure Arabs’ of Yemenite background).
Nevertheless, the U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Israel and the UAE has been labeled ‘the Abraham Accords” for PR reasons and not because of ethnic origins. This goes over well among Evangelicals in the West, where conjuring up the name ‘Abraham’ grants supposed biblical patina and prophetic perfume to the agreement. A more accurate title for the treaty would be ‘The Accords between the descendants of Jacob who live in the Promised Land and some of the descendants of Shem.’ That just doesn’t have the same sizzle.
Cui bono? Who benefits?
A cursory scan of the web reveals that much money is being made by Abraham Accords deal-makers who stand close to those at the summit of political power. Former financial partners, sons and sons-in-law – many are feeding at the financial trough. Whether it be AI, aerospace and defense companies, real estate, bitcoiners – the fiscal flow is enough to inebriate even seasoned investors. Those who tag along on the Abraham trail find themselves rubbing shoulders with ‘people of influence,’ and that raises the value of their portfolio stock. Others begin to represent themselves as ‘Evangelicals of note’ who hob-nob with Emirs, Crown Princes, kings and even a prince or two. This heady atmosphere tends to obfuscate less palatable issues – like soft-soaping how the nations are dividing up the Land of Israel. “Hey, let’s not be concerned about those rather unclear Scriptural issues!” some say. “These really are prophetic events, and what is transpiring is ‘peace, peace’!” – but there is no peace (see Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11; 9:8). The wars of Psalm 83, Zechariah 12-14 and Ezekiel 38-39 are still ‘coming prophetic attractions’ in the Middle East.
Slow dialogue with a jihadi kamikaze
On October 25, 1944 the first 24 kamikaze (‘divine wind’) volunteer suicide bombers of the Japanese 201st Navy Air Group attacked American naval vessels, killing 100 Americans and taking down 34 ships. This willingness to die in pursuit of military aims is very much a part of the jihadi mentality, as Mohammed taught on numerous occasions:
- “Truly allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties; for theirs (in return) is Paradise. They fight in his cause, so they kill (others) and are killed” (Sahih al-Bukhari 51:1)
- “So narrated Al-Mughira bin Shu’ba, ‘Our prophet told us about the message of allah that “whoever amongst us is killed will go to Paradise” (Sahih al-Bukhari 51:2)
- “So narrated Anas bin Malik, ‘The prophet said, “Nobody who dies and finds good from allah… would wish to come back to this world even if he were given the whole world and whatever is in it – except the martyr who, on seeing the superiority of martyrdom, would like to come back to the world and get killed again” (Sahih al-Bukhari 51:6)
- We renounce you. Enmity and hate shall forever reign between us – until you believe in allah alone” (Qur’an 60:4)
Westerners usually find it hard to understand the dogmatic nature of this murderous hatred. They find it difficult to grasp that Muslims who obey the Quran believe in a ‘jihad without end’ – a process that must continue until all non-Muslims either bow, are put to death or are enslaved. Many in the West respond in shock, saying “Surely there must be some other way to change their minds!” But the truth is unappetizingly simple: If one doesn’t take jihad seriously, one can’t understand the Middle East. The Abraham Accords are blind to classic Islamic realities, and those in the West who sign off on these deceptive accords are unfortunately what in the Russian language are called ‘useful idiots’ (полезные дураки, polezniye duraki).
Dividing the baby
Recent announcements on the Israeli news site Israel HaYom divulged unattributed information that a four-way telephone conversation between United States President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer occurred directly after the American assault on Iran’s nuclear installations.
According to so-far unattributed sources, they reached consensus on certain general and fundamental principles. It was stated that these plans would be rapidly implemented, beginning with terminating the warfare in Gaza. Here is a five-point summary:
- Gaza hostilities will conclude within two weeks, ending conditions will encompass four Arab nations (including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates) to administer the Gaza Strip, replacing the murderous Hamas terrorist organization. The remaining Hamas leadership will face exile to other countries, while the hostages gain freedom
- Multiple nations globally will accept numerous Gaza inhabitants seeking emigration
- Abraham Accords expansion will bring Syria, Saudi Arabia, and additional Arab and Muslim countries to recognize Israel and establish official relationships
- Israel will declare its willingness for future Palestinian conflict resolution under the ‘two states’ concept, contingent upon the Palestinian Authority reforms
- The United States will acknowledge limited Israeli sovereignty implementation in Judea and Samaria
At 8:39 am on June 29, 2025, POTUS Trump tweeted: “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!! DJT”. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office categorically rejected these claims, emphasizing that no such political plan was presented to or agreed upon by Israel. Officials in both capitals have remained tight-lipped about diplomatic discussions related to Gaza and broader peace efforts. On Thursday night June 26, 2025, Netanyahu stated in a tweet: Israel’s “victory opens an opportunity for a dramatic expansion of the peace agreements. We are working vigorously on that. Along with the release of our hostages and defeat of Hamas, there is a window of opportunity here that must not be wasted. We must not waste even a single day.”
These developments are not in themselves new. US Presidents from Bill Clinton onward have pushed for the partition of Judea and Samaria and the division of Jerusalem. Even some Israeli Prime Ministers have been happy to dance to that tune. The stickler here is the Bible – the prophetic promises indicating a curse on those who divide the Land. There is also the matter of Jewish history: this Land is our patrimony and our homeland from Abraham’s day until today. No Accord falsely labeled ‘Abraham Accord’ can change those historical and biblical realities.
- Who has authority and permission to divide half or 70% of Judea and Samaria/the West Bank? To use King Solomon’s legal ruling: can this baby be divided in half? Who then is the real mother? Those who would divide the Land of Israel cannot be considered the true parents here.
Evangelical idolatry
The chosen people of Israel were afraid when Moses was not coming down from Mount Sinai. They turned to Moses’ brother Aaron and commanded him to build a statue, an idol, that they could worship in front of it. Aaron made a cast-metal golden calf, following the people’s idolatry.
There are those in the Evangelical community who look to human leaders more than they look to YHVH. They have seen evil leadership and have feared for the spiritual survival of America. They are aware of human weakness and flaws in the present leadership, but are asking a sober question: “What’s the alternative? Our present leader is the only solution!”
Followers of the God of Jacob, who love the country and their leadership, need to be weighing ever so carefully what that leadership is doing – especially regarding the sons and daughters of Jacob. No human leadership is immune from errors in judgment and even from sin. This is why believers in the USA need to be praying fervently and from a full heart for POTUS Trump and his counselors.
- As John warns us in the last chapter of his first letter: “Little children, guard yourselves from idols!” (1 John 5:21)
How shall we then pray?
- Pray that all jihadi plans to destroy Israel and to cause great casualties to the Jewish people will be nullified
- Pray that divine wisdom, strategies and discernment be given to the leaders of Israel and the USA regarding the red line of dividing the Land of Israel
- Pray for the raising up of Ezekiel’s prophetic Jewish army throughout the earth
Your prayers and support hold up our arms and are the very practical enablement of God to us in the work He has called us to do.
In Messiah Yeshua,
Avner Boskey
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