Last week, I asked you what you thought was the worst possible tragedy that could befall somebody, a community or a nation? I imagine that with all that has been happening lately, one would easily be spoilt for choices. I mean: losing everything in a natural disaster as it was recently the case in the Philippines? A terrorist attack as on September 11? War? Cancer? A plane crash? A nuclear accident? An economic crisis which can lead a thriving country like Greece to bankruptcy? Losing a job or a house? Dying before having the chance to get married and have children?
All these things, and others, are indeed very tragic and the victims deserve our sympathy and prayers. However, I cannot vividly remember what I was recently thinking about when the thought suddenly crossed my mind that the worst tragedy possible is the lack of a prophetic voice. Huh??? Seriously??? I can easily imagine the facial expression on some of your faces. Let me explain.
It is written: "Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed" (2Chr 20:20). So, our success greatly depends on our level of trust in the LORD’s messengers. Oh? But I thought that cursed was the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength and that, we were to put ALL our trust in the LORD (Jer 17:5; Pr 3:5)?
Don’t panic; there is no contradiction. Jesus said that those who really wanted to do GOD’s will (i.e. trust GOD) would know whether His teaching/message is from GOD or not (Jn 7:17). Indeed, when we fully trust GOD, we welcome those He sends to us with open arms; we believe what they say; we receive the reward of the prophet and thus, succeed.
It is not often that GOD thunders His voice from heaven. When He wants to instruct or warn an individual, a people or a nation, He speaks through somebody: a prophet. Prophets are not just there to predict doom; they are also –mainly- there to provide us with solutions and a sense of direction - even though these are often quite disconcerting for GOD’s ways are not ours.
- A woman was about to die of hunger with her son, when she met a prophet (1Ki 17).
- The sons of a poor widow were going to be sold as slaves when a prophet told her what to do in order to pay her debts and prosper (2Ki 4).
- An army General would have been plagued with leprosy if not for a prophet (2Ki 5).
- Armies suddenly found themselves without water for the troops and horses, until a prophet gave them a solution to their situation (2Ki 3).
- Another army always knew what the enemy was about to do, thanks to a prophet (1Ki 20).
- Some men almost got into serious trouble after losing a borrowed axe in a river; but thank GOD, they had a prophet in their midst (2Ki 6).
- Some other men unfortunately ate some poisonous fruits or veggies and would have all died, if not for the intervention of a prophet (2Ki 4:39-41).
- A young man could not find his asses. Luckily, he had the reflex to go to the seer who lived in a different town. The prophet did not only tell him where to find the donkeys, he also told him that GOD has chosen him to be king! What a journey! (1Sam 9)
- What is your own problem?
If only we would pay attention to prophetic word, we would spare ourselves a lot of trouble. We would even deal with the suffering which is beyond our control like natural disasters better; and may even find unsuspected solutions, if we could just stop to ask: "Is there no prophet of the LORD here, through whom we may inquire of the LORD?" as well (2Ki 3:11, 1Ki 22:7).
After having said this, I am not advising you to entrust your life with just anybody: the fact that one bears the title ‘Prophet’ doesn’t mean that he/she is a genuine. Jeremiah said: “As for the prophet who prophesies peace (i.e. prosperity, success, health etc.), when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet» (vs 28.9). And warning against false prophets Jesus concluded: “You will recognize them by their fruits” (Mat 7:15-16). Don’t be fooled by prophecy-traders. When giftings are truly authentic, one doesn’t have to pay for them: they are freely given. You can decide, on your own accord, to give an offering to the man of GOD whom you are going to see: it is scriptural (1Sam 9:7-8); but it is not up to the prophet to tell you what you must give him in order to be blessed. He himself must believe GOD who knows his true needs and who will surely know how to touch the hearts of those coming to seek the LORD through him.
I said that the worst possible tragedy was the lack of prophetic voice. When there is no prophet, there is no compass. People are like sheep without shepherd. They don’t even realise that much of what they call ‘good’ is ‘abomination’ in GOD’s eyes. Unfortunately, one day or the other, GOD will have to intervene. It is to avoid this tragedy that the greatest Prophet of all times, the Word, GOD’s perfect mouthpiece, Jesus, was born and came on earth. He is the Beloved in whom GOD is well-pleased: Let’s listen to Him. The Bible is the greatest prophecy. Let us read it, believe what it says and put it into practice.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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