Micaiah, like thousands of believers before and after him, was persecuted for his faith. Persecution comes from a variety of people and is given in a variety of ways. Sometimes God protects us from it, sometimes he doesn’t. It must break God’s heart, but then I believe He is pleased with His people for standing up for what is right: being persecuted for being God-followers; first the Jews (since the being of time) and then the church being grafted in with the same opportunity.
Isaac and the Philistines: God was blessing Isaac, and they envied him. The Philistines could not subdue Isaac, so they made peace with him (Genesis 26:12-33)
Moses and the Israelites: The Israelites wanted water and God provided water thanks to Moses’ prayer (Exodus 17:1-7)
David, Saul and others: David was becoming a powerful leader, threatening Saul’s position as king, David endured the persecution and became king, (1 Samuel 20-27; Psalm 31:13, 59:1-4)
Priests of Nob, Saul and Doeg: Saul and Doeg thought the priests helped David escape, 85 priests were killed (1 Samuel 22)
Prophets and Jezebel: Jezebel didn’t like to have her evil ways pointed out, Many prophets were killed (1 Kings 18:3-4)
Elijah, Ahab and Jezebel: Elijah confronted their sins Elijah had to flee for his life (1 Kings 18:10-19:2)
Micaiah and Ahab: Ahab thought Micaiah was stirring up trouble rather than prophesying from God, Micaiah was thrown into prison (2 Chronicles 18:12-26)
Elisha and a king of Israel (probably Joram): The king thought Elisha had caused the famine, Elisha ignored the threatened persecution and prophesied the famine’s end (2 Kings 6:31)
Hanani and Asa: Hanani criticized Asa for trusting in Aram’s help more than in God’s help, Hanani was thrown in prison (2 Chronicles 16:7-10)
Zechariah and Joash: Zechariah confronted the people of Judah for disregarding God’s commands, Zechariah was executed (2 Chronicles 24:20-22)
Uriah and Jehoiakim: Uriah confronted Jehoiakim about his evil ways Uriah was butchered to death (Jeremiah 26:20-23)
Jeremiah and Zedekiah: Zedekiah thought Jeremiah was a traitor for prophesying Jerusalem’s fall, Jeremiah was thrown in prison, then into a muddy cistern (Jeremiah 37:1-38:13)
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and Nebuchadnezzar: The three men refused to bow down to anyone but God, They were thrown into a fiery furnace, but God miraculously saved them (Daniel 3)
Daniel and national leaders: Daniel was praying, Daniel was thrown into a den of lions, but God miraculously saved him (Daniel 6)
Job and Satan: Satan wanted to prove that pain and suffering would make a person abandon God, Job remained faithful to God and was restored (Job 1:8-12; 2:3-7)
John the Baptist, Herod and Herodias: John confronted King Herod’s adultery, John was beheaded (Matthew 14:3-13)
Jesus and the religious leaders: Jesus exposed their sinful motives Jesus was crucified, but rose again from the dead to show his authority over all evil (Mark 7:1-16, Luke 22:63-24:7)
Peter, John and religious leaders: Peter and John preached that Jesus was God’s Son and the only way to salvation, They were thrown into prison, but later released (Acts 4:1-31)
Stephen and religious leaders: Stephen exposed their guilt in crucifying Jesus, Stephen was stoned to death (Acts 6-7)
The church, Paul and others: The Christians preached Jesus as the Messiah, Believers faced death prison, torture, exile (Acts 8:1-3, 9:1-9)
James and Herod Agrippa I: To please the Jewish leaders, James was executed (Acts 12:1-2)
Peter and Herod Agrippa I: To please the Jewish leaders, Peter was thrown into prison (Acts 12:3-17)
Paul, Jews, city officials: Paul preached about Jesus and confronted those who made money by manipulating others, Paul was stoned; thrown into prison (Acts 14:19, 16:16-24)
Timothy and Someone or Some Group: Timothy was thrown into prison ( Hebrews 13:23)
John and Probably the Romans: John told others about Jesus, John was sent into exile on a remote island (Revelation 1:9)
As long as we remain faithful to God alone, we must expect persecution (see also Luke 6:22, 2 Corinthians 6:4-10, 2 Timothy 2:9-12, 1 Peter 1:6-7, 4:12-14, Revelation 2:10). God also seems to have a special reward for those who endure such persecution (Revelation 6:9-11, 20:4).
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