As the year 2020, laden with the coronavirus pandemic is gradually coming to an end, hopefully, we shall soon begin to hear the unleashing of New Year prophecies for 2021 by a host of men of God, often called prophets. This has suddenly become the norm at the beginning of every new year. Sometimes, such prophecies portend danger and tragic events, and other times, they convey glad tidings. Unfortunately, it was very strange that in the series of prophecies for 2020, no one saw the coronavirus pandemic, breezing in from far away China and spreading to almost every part of the world. No one could even foresee the devastating blow and havoc the pandemic was going to visit on humanity and the number of lives it would claim.
However, what is of concern to me is the nature of most of the prophecies. Looking at some past prophecies, the question is, do they really qualify to be so called? What makes them different from predictions people sometimes make about future events? And very importantly, are these prophecies products of divination or inspiration? Looking at prophecy in the scriptures will help to address these issues posed and give a better understanding of what prophecy is all about and what it should mean for us today.
The word prophet comes from the Greek prophetes – meaning one who speaks for another, especially God and the Hebrew nabi – meaning one who calls, announces, proclaims a message, one who is called; a vocation to be messenger. One who acts or speaks on behalf of another. A prophet was a member of ancient Israel’s religious leadership considered to be skilled in divine and human communication. Usually, he received a word from God and announces it to those seeking that word. In ancient Israel, prophecy did not connote the future. If that was the case, then what were the sources of their prophecy? Prophecies originated either through divination or inspiration. Let me quickly throw some light on this.
For divination, the individual took the initiative to inquire or investigate, certain technical skills were required to master the art of divination, and they were often met with mixed reception in the Bible. A good example is found in the prophet Micah 3:10-11, “Who build up Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness! Its leaders render judgment for a bribe, the priests teach for pay, the prophets divine for money. While they rely on the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD in the midst of us? No evil can come upon us!”. Also see 1 Sam. 28:8-11 and Ezekiel 21:26. In this case, it is not God who sends or gives the message, but the prophet or individual on his own goes all out in search of the information or knowledge. This use of divinatory techniques was very rampant among the counterparts of Israel’s prophets in making inquiries on behalf of their people. Even though some form of divination was practiced among the ancient Israelites, like interpretation of dreams (Gen. 37:5-11; Matt. 1;18-20; 2:13,19) and lot oracles (Ezra 2:59-63), they were still however forbidden (Cf. Deut. 18:9-14).
On the other hand, prophecy through inspiration was a direct revelation from the LORD. God would speak directly to the prophet through dreams and visions. Usually, it was characterized by the phrase, “Thus says the Lord!” (Cf. Is. 6:1-6). Through the prophets, God communicated to the people, and the people could consult the prophets to know God’s will and intentions for them. King Jehoshaphat urges the king of Israel to seek a word of the Lord from the prophet Micaiah, son of Imlah, whether to go to war against Ramoth-Gilead or not (1Kgs. 22). King Josiah sent his advisers to go to Huldah the prophet, and consult the Lord concerning the book found in the temple (2Kgs. 22:11-20).
Besides, there were also cases of false prophets. Those who were genuinely sent by God and those who claimed to be sent by God. We see a clear case of prophetic conflict in the Bible between the prophets Jeremiah and Hananiah. Hananiah had announced that God spoke to him that the Babylonian domination would be broken. That within two years all the vessels carted away from the temple would be returned and that king Jeconiah of Judah and all the exiles of Judah who went to Babylon would return. Within that same moment, the prophet Jeremiah also prophesied that God told him this would not be the case. Rather, as a sign, he was asked to tell Hananiah that he was going to die that same year for misleading the people. Truly, on the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah died (Jer. 28:1-17).
So, how possible is it to recognize if a prophecy originated from God or otherwise? Looking at the present circumstances, how do we know which prophesies are from God and those that are not from Him? This brings us to what is referred to as the Deuteronomic test. In the book of Deuteronomy, we are told; “if a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD but the word does not come true, it is a word the LORD did not speak. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; do not fear him.” (18:21-22). Apart from some of the new year prophecies in the past not coming through, the nature and content of some of these prophecies are, to say the least, highly ridiculous, and insignificant. Sometimes, I wonder if God bothers himself with such matters and be discussing them with such people. I wonder also, if God now lacks foreknowledge when some of these framed prophecies never come to pass. Or do they communicate the mind of God wrongly due to the limitation of human language? While this is not an attempt to completely undermine the fact that God still speaks to each one of us, He also speaks through certain people also, irrespective of religious, political, ethnic, and cultural background. The fact remains that some of the prophetic claims we are going to witness in the year 2021 are unfounded, never inspired by God but attempts aimed at gaining cheap popularity. Whom God has not spoken to, should not attribute his or her claims to God. God can not be manipulated or cajoled.
As we look forward to the “2021 prophetic claims”, which will soon start flooding our print and social media platforms, I wish to invite everyone to look at some of the issues and challenges facing us both nationally and globally today. They include insecurity of lives and property, the pending ASUU strike and the prolonged stay of our youths at home, terrorism and armed banditry, the advent of a vaccine and divine intervention in curbing the corona virus, poverty, unemployment, good and empathetic leadership, social injustice, discrimination, and inequality, domestic violence and sexual abuse, suffering and oppression of the poor by the rich and political/religious elites, poor healthcare and lack of potable water, ethno-religious conflicts and crisis, racism, tribalism, ethnicism and nepotism, danger of greed, avarice and inordinate desire for wealth and riches, quest for power and positions at whatever cost and disregard for human dignity, life, rights and freedom.
Amid all these problems, where do we find God speaking to each of us and warning us to beware and be careful? How do we hear God inviting us to join hands to create a better world for ourselves and others? Do we even realize how we have contributed to the social and moral problems we face in the world today? Do we not realize that rather than one person claiming to have heard from God, that God is also speaking to each of us from the inner recesses of our consciences, urging us to do the right thing (Cf. Rom. 10:8-9). So, as we approach the new year, let each person strive to listen to what God is saying through the persistent and unrelenting pandemic, our disappointments, failures, difficulties, and setbacks; through our children, youths, and subordinates, since some people never listen to these groups of people in their lives. This time around, let the so-called prophets listen to what God is saying to them through their own congregations, flocks, families, and followers. Let us listen to what God is saying through the tensions, crisis, and problems we have created for ourselves through unforgiveness, bitterness, malice, anger, envy, jealousy, pride, unfaithfulness, and disobedience. As Scripture says: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14).
The year 2020 has been a tough and challenging year for everyone. The experiences have been horrendous. Yet, God permitted everything that has happened, expectedly for a good reason and purpose. As we continue to unfold the pack of lessons and morals that accompanied the year 2020, let us look ahead and see what the year 2021 holds in stock for us. While we wish the best for ourselves and for everyone, let us ask God to inspire each one of us to know, seek, and do the right thing. We do not need to wait for any prophetic declarations from any prophet to discover what God expects from us. God wants us to turn away from evil and do good. He wants us to love one another as he has loved us in Christ. May the year 2021 be better than the previous year. We look forward to the end of the corona virus pandemic and a better life for everyone. We hope for an improved style of governance that will usher in better opportunities and way of life. We hope for improved security of lives and property. We hope for much regard and respect for human life, dignity, and freedom, unlike the mindless killings and abductions we saw in 2020. We equally hope that those who prophesy through divination not inspiration from God, will not cause us unnecessary headaches and heartaches in 2021 more than we have already. May God heal our land and help us. Happy New Year of God’s peace and blessings to you all!
By Fr. Anaweokhai O. Valentine
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