Jeremiah 28

“The prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, ‘Listen, Hananiah! The Lord did not send you, but you have led these people to trust in a lie. Therefore, this is what the Lord says: “I am about to send you off the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have spoken rebellion against the Lord.”’ And the Prophet Hananiah died that year in the seventh month.” Jeremiah 28:15-16 (HCSB)

Today’s chapter continues warning us against false prophets, but with the intended message that we should confront and expose false prophets. As a matter of fact, the more we study God’s Word, the more we notice how false messages have even wormed their way into certain Church circles. The distinguishing factor of a false prophet is how far their message strays from God’s Word. The apostle Paul described a community that was adept in distinguishing false prophets from true messengers of God.

“As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Borea. On arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men.” Acts 17:10-12 (HCSB)

God’s Word, the Bible, exposes the false prophet! Since a true prophet’s message is always consistent with the Bible, consider these statements:

“The messenger who went to call Micaiah instructed him, ‘Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king. So let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.’  But Micaiah said, ‘As the Lord lives, I will say whatever the Lord says to me.’” 1 Kings 22:13-14 (HCSB)

“Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it.’  ‘I am not able to,’ Joseph answered Pharaoh. ‘It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.’” Genesis 41:15-16 (HCSB)

Even Jesus (one of the three Persons of the tri-unity of God) knew that His message must be completely consistent (and never contradictory) with God’s plan and purpose. He was, after all, God’s Word, made flesh. (John 1:1-14)

“The one who rejects Me and doesn’t accept My sayings has this as his judge: The Word I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commands as to what I should say and what I should speak. I know that his command is eternal life. So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father told Me.” John 12:48-50 (HCSB)