When Glamour Becomes a Trap: Kingdom Discernment, Ahab’s Fall, and the Cost of Misalignment

Catherine (🇭🇹Guillaume🇭🇹) Sackey, MPAP

She/Her

Master of Public Affairs and Politics | 2024 Princeton P3 Scholar | 2022 Rutgers University Paul Robeson Scholar | Analyst | NJ Certified MWBE | Community Development Advocate | Leadership Development Consultant

In the 18th chapter of 2 Chronicles, a deeply revealing narrative unfolds—one that exposes the cost of covenant, the seduction of status, and the vital need for discernment when walking in Kingdom purpose. Jehoshaphat, the righteous king of Judah, aligns himself by treaty with Ahab, king of Israel—a man already under divine judgment. That treaty was not just political; it was personal. Jehoshaphat’s son married Ahab’s daughter, tying legacy to lineage, and generational blessing to impending doom.

This partnership should alarm us, not just because of what it represents historically, but because of how easily the same pattern plays out spiritually and relationally today. When we partner with people based on what looks good on the outside—power, wealth, influence—but ignore what God has already revealed about their spiritual trajectory, we risk becoming entangled in judgments not meant for us.

The Banquet Before the Battle

2 Chronicles 18:2 tells us Ahab welcomed Jehoshaphat with a great banquet. Lavish hospitality, honor, royal treatment—it’s no wonder Jehoshaphat felt comfortable. He was being celebrated, not interrogated. But Ahab had an agenda. After the feast, he asked Jehoshaphat to join him in battle at Ramoth-Gilead.

Jehoshaphat paused to inquire of the Lord. But Ahab had already stacked the deck, parading 400 prophets who told him exactly what he wanted to hear: “Yes, go to war! You will be victorious!” (2 Chron. 18:5, NLT). Only one man—Micaiah—refused to lie. He was brought reluctantly, and Ahab confessed, “I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me!” (v. 7). That alone should have been a red flag.

Micaiah’s warning was chilling:

“I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘Their master has been killed. Send them home in peace.’” (v. 16, NLT)

This prophetic vision was God’s way of saying, “This war is not sanctioned. Ahab will die. Let the people return home.” Yet Ahab ignored the word. He heard it, but he didn’t heed it.

Ahab’s Manipulation and Jehoshaphat’s Mistake

Despite rejecting Micaiah’s prophecy, Ahab still believed it enough to manipulate the outcome in his favor. What he said next should give every Kingdom leader pause:

“I will disguise myself so no one will recognize me, but you wear your royal robes.” (v. 29, NLT)

Ahab dressed like an ordinary soldier while sending Jehoshaphat out dressed like royalty—the obvious target. It was deception masked as strategy. And it literally placed Jehoshaphat in the line of fire.

The king of Aram had issued this command:

“Attack only the king of Israel! Don’t bother with anyone else.” (v. 30, NLT)

So when they saw Jehoshaphat in royal robes, they shouted, “There’s the king of Israel!” and chased him.

But the Word says:

“Jehoshaphat called out, and the Lord saved him. God helped him by turning the attackers away from him.” (v. 31, NLT)

Even in the midst of a bad alignment, God’s mercy prevailed. Why? Because Jehoshaphat still belonged to God. Grace covered what foolishness compromised.

The Prophecy Fulfilled

Ahab couldn’t hide from divine justice. A random arrow struck him between the joints of his armor (v. 33). He died slowly, watching his blood drip down as he sat propped in his chariot. That moment fulfilled Elijah’s earlier prophecy in 1 Kings:

“Have you not murdered a man and seized his property? ... In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!” (1 Kings 21:19, NLT)

And in the end,

“Someone washed the chariot at the pool of Samaria, and dogs came and licked his blood at the place where the prostitutes bathed, just as the Lord had promised.” (1 Kings 22:38, NLT)

Ahab’s plan to cheat death failed. He was judged, just as God had declared. And Jehoshaphat? He went home, spared, but scarred.

When Mission Outweighs Glamour

The cool thing about being aligned—truly aligned—is that purpose begins to outweigh the need for glitz, glam, and status. When you’re driven by a deeper “why,” there’s a shift. At first, when we discover our gifts or talents, it’s easy to equate that with purpose. We think, “Since I’m good at this and it feels fulfilling, this must be it.” And yes, our gifts often point toward our calling. But we must be careful not to confuse talent and visibility with purpose itself.

Discernment becomes dulled when we prioritize status over substance. But when you’re truly grounded in your assignment, your discernment sharpens. You stop chasing appearances. Your passion becomes your anchor. You may still admire the glitz. You might think, “Maybe one day.” And that’s fine—hope is healthy. But you also realize that timing matters, and not every opportunity is holy. Some doors are traps dressed in gold trim.

There are many Ahabs out there—leaders and influencers who appear powerful, successful, and generous but whose motives are self-preserving, even destructive. Aligning with them might seem like a blessing, but it often ends with spiritual or emotional fallout.

Instead, align with people who are purpose-driven, where mission goes before money, but who are still revenue-minded. That’s the sweet spot. They’re building businesses, movements, and systems that are sustainable, but not at the cost of their convictions. They lead with integrity. They solve real problems. They value people over platforms. And yes, they still make a profit. But profit isn’t the idol—it’s the tool.

And let’s be clear: not everyone who leads this way is in the faith. Some people don’t necessarily profess Christianity but still operate according to the principles of the Kingdom. They serve first, honor truth, and lift others. In doing so, they walk in a kind of alignment that many in the church still struggle to embrace.

So as you grow in your purpose, stay mindful. Don’t chase what sparkles. Chase what serves. Don’t sacrifice your discernment for a seat at the table. Sit at the one God’s been building for you all along—where integrity governs, purpose leads, and abundance flows not from performance, but from alignment.

Final Reflection

You were never meant to be someone else’s shield for judgment. You were meant to be a voice, a light, and a shepherd who knows the true voice of the King. Your mission matters more than your image. So lead like it.

Reference Guide All Scripture citations are from The Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015).

2 Chronicles 18:1-3 — Political covenant through marriage

2 Chronicles 18:4-7 — Prophetic inquiry and manipulation of truth

2 Chronicles 18:16 — Prophecy of scattering and divine mercy

2 Chronicles 18:29-31 — Ahab’s disguise and Jehoshaphat’s near downfall

2 Chronicles 18:33-34 — Ahab’s death and prophetic fulfillment

1 Kings 21:17-19 — Elijah’s judgment over Naboth’s vineyard

1 Kings 22:38 — Fulfillment of the judgment: dogs licking Ahab’s blood

---

Policy Over Politics Leadership Note: This teaching is part of the Policy Over Politics Christian Leadership Series. It guides the reader to recognize the cost of covenant, the danger of glamorized alignments, and the grace of God’s intervention even when our discernment fails. It reinforces that prophetic warnings must not be ignored when building partnerships, because true leadership is tested not by how you lead in favor but by how you discern in crisis.

---

Definition of Leadership: Leadership is the stewardship of a covenant. It is the ability to discern beyond charisma, influence, and opportunity and instead align deeply with God’s warnings, His Word, and His will. Leaders walk in divine wisdom when they reject glittering tables for grounded truth and steward relationships based on eternal alignment, not temporary access.