He is a Prophet

Moses the prophet whom God used to redeem the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt was a man of exceptional qualities. He was born at a time when Hebrew or Jewish new born baby boys were supposed to be drowned in the Nile River. However, he escaped miraculously and grew up as the Prince of Egypt. Similar to Moses, as a young child, Jesus faced a decree that took the lives of many young innocent children but God through His angels delivered Jesus and He was hidden in Egypt until the evil Herod died. The people God uses are not without challenges. Like many of us, they face their own share of life’s daily challenges,  yet, they rise above all these challenges and with the help of God, they become men and women of honour. As Moses fled Egypt, he departed as a fearful prince who had committed murder. However, he returned as a prophet of God empowered to bring deliverance to God’s people.

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. ‭‭(Deuteronomy‬ ‭18:15‬)

The ministry of Moses is highly influential in the history of Israel. Till date, when the books of Moses are read in Jewish communities,  the reaction is that of honour and reverence. This is definitely so because God’s presence with Moses was so great that God spoke with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he saw the form of the Lord (Numbers 12:8). Moses received the commandments of God and handed them over to the Israelites. By the time Moses died, the disorganized people he brought out to Egypt were a nation ready to possess the lands God had given to them. At one point in time, after an encounter with the Lord, Moses’ face was so radiant that he had to put a veil on his face (Exodus 34:35). This was how God’s power was mightily demonstrated through Moses.

One might conclude that Moses was the most powerful prophet ever lived. Yet, Moses himself was aware that after him will come another prophet. Before Moses died, he told the people this: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.” ‭‭(Deuteronomy‬ ‭18:15‬). This prophecy found its fulfillment in the birth of Jesus. The author of Hebrews mentioned that “Jesus has been found worthy of greater honour than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honour than the house itself.” (Hebrews 3:3). He continued that, “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” (Hebrews 3:5-6).

The helpless baby in the Manger was also a prophet of God. He spoke the mind of God and told the people what to expect in the future. Jesus’ words were so powerful that the people listening to Him confirmed that; “He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.‭‭” (Matthew‬ ‭7:29‬). Jesus knew exactly what will happen to Him and His followers in the future. As a prophet,  He prepared His disciples to know the times and the seasons. As we celebrate Christmas, we shouldn’t take this for granted; the baby in the Manger was no ordinary child. As helpless as He was in the Manger, He was Saviour of the world, the Son of God, the one who paid off humanity’s sins. Our prophet knows our past, our present and our future. Let’s open up to Him and allow Him to speak the words of life unto us.

The Shunammite woman: Taking advantage of opportunities

Many women have been influential in the ministries of many men and women of God. With their financial support, such women contribute to the advancement of the kingdom of God. In the days of Jesus, there were women who supported the ministry from their earnings (Luke 8:1-3). Similarly, in our days, many churches have thrived on the generosity of women. Obviously, kingdom financiers have not only been women. There are men who have contributed immensely towards the growth and development of different ministries. Since this series focuses on women, we would focus our attention on the women. However, both men and women can be kingdom financiers. Elisha, the prophet, also benefited from the generosity of a woman. This woman went out to provide for the man of God and she received the blessings of  a prophet.

One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. (2 Kings 4:8)

Elisha’s ministry involved a lot of traveling and one of the places he visited often was Shunem. 2 Kings 4:8 quotes that, “One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat.” Thus, Elisha was originally invited for a meal and the woman’s home became his constant stopover place for food. The woman  identified another need. If she could make a sleeping place for the prophet,  she was likely to have the prophet stay over instead of just eating and continuing his journey. The woman saw this as an advantageous opportunity not a worrisome task. She was not forced into making the decision,  she came up with the idea. Her type of generosity extended beyond food. She wanted to give more. She desired to sow more blessings into the man of God. She was rich (well-to-do) so she could have easily taken that step. But, she had a discussion with her husband about it. She submitted to her husband’s authority and leadership. She went to her husband and said to him “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us” (2 Kings 4:9‭-‬10). 

With the support of her husband, they made an upper room for Elisha. She wasn’t bound by any law to provide for the prophet. She saw an opportunity not a chore. She identified a need and availed herself to provide it. As long as the prophet was just stopping over to eat, the woman was never asked if she needed something but as soon as the prophet was given a room in her house, it opened doors for further conversations. One day when Elisha came to the house of the woman, he went up to his room and lay down there. He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him. Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’ ” She replied, “I have a home among my own people” (2 Kings 4:11‭-‬13). The woman had a need but she was unable to share it with the prophet. She was childless and her husband was old (2 Kings 4:14). Prophet Elisha said to her, “About this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my Lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!” However,  true to the word of Elisha, the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son (2 Kings 4:16‭-‬17).

The Shunammite woman went out of her way to be a blessing to a man of God. She provided food and even added accommodation. She housed a prophet and received a prophet’s reward. Her own need was met when she provided for the needs of a man of God. When we go out of our way, with genuineness to serve others, we shall also be satisfied.  

The wife of Jeroboam: The bearer of bad news

The nation of Israel was divided into two after the death of Solomon. Rehoboam’s refusal to listen to the wise men but take instructions from his fellows led to the division (1 Kings 12). Prior to that God had warned Solomon that as a result of his apostasy, the kingdom will be divided (1 Kings 11:11). The two kingdoms that came out of the nation of Israel were the Southern Kingdom consisting of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and the Northern Kingdom consisting of the other ten tribes. Rehoboam ruled the Southern Kingdom which was referred to as Judah in the Bible. Jeroboam, the rebel leader, ruled over the Northern Kingdom which was referred to as Israel in the Bible. Jeroboam was a wicked king. He did so much evil that his name became the household name for apostasy throughout the history of Israel. What was Jeroboam’s apostasy? He made  two golden calves and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” He set up one in Bethel, and the other in Dan. The people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other. He built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites (see 1 Kings 12:28‭-‬31).

and Jeroboam said to his wife, “Go, disguise yourself, so you won’t be recognized as the wife of Jeroboam. Then go to Shiloh. Ahijah the prophet is there—the one who told me I would be king over this people. (1 Kings 14:2)

With such a track record, Jeroboam was definitely not in good standing with God. God through his prophet declared the doom of Jeroboam. In the course of time, Jeroboam’s son Abijah became ill. Then Jeroboam said to his wife, “Go, disguise yourself, so you won’t be recognized as the wife of Jeroboam. Then go to Shiloh. Ahijah the prophet is there—the one who told me I would be king over this people.” (1 Kings 14:2). Jeroboam’s wife was commissioned to inquire from the prophet. This woman knew the state of her husband’s heart and evil things he had done. She was sent to inquire from the same God her husband had rejected by making idols for the people. Of all the people she could have been sent to, she was sent to a prophet who truly hears from God. As a mother, Jeroboam’s wife might have had concerns for her son. He was dying and needed to be helped. The woman embarked on this journey hoping to get answers. She didn’t know what was in store for her. Even before she arrived at the house of Prophet Ahijah, the Lord prompted the prophet of her visit and told him what to say to her.

Prophet Ahijah was blind but as soon as Jeroboam’s wife got to the door of the prophet, the prophet called her and asked, “why this pretense?” Before the woman could state her mission, the prophet told her that the kingdom will be taken away from her husband. Further, Ahijah told her that “As for you, go back home. When you set foot in your city, the boy will die. All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He is the only one belonging to Jeroboam who will be buried, because he is the only one in the house of Jeroboam in whom the Lord, the God of Israel, has found anything good.” (1 Kings 14:12‭-‬13). Jeroboam’s wife was sent as the bearer of bad news: the death of her son and an end to their family’s reign over Israel. She left the house of the prophet carrying bad news. She might have been horrified and scared. She knew the power in the words of Ahijah. She got up and went to Tirzah. 1 Kings 14:17-18 states that “as soon as she stepped over the threshold of the house, the boy died. They buried him, and all Israel mourned for him, as the Lord had said through his servant the prophet Ahijah.”

The wife of Jeroboam witnessed the massive apostasy of her husband. She lived in the Palace and saw the name of God brought low and evil reigning in the hearts of the people. She experienced and possibly worshipped her husband’s idols. She was a source of authority and a leader but together with her husband, they led a whole nation to sin. Even if she might not have publicly declared it, she abandoned God just as all the others who worshipped Jeroboam’s idols. There are many things we seem to do with good intentions but they are evil in the sight of God. If we fail to point out evil, the consequences of the sinful acts of others would befall on all people including the silent watchers.

Bethsheba: God hates sin!

No matter how we garnish sin and give it a new name and new identity, it doesn’t change the state from sin to good. Sin is sin no matter how big or small. God hates sin no matter the magnitude of the sin. The ultimate goal of God sending His only begotten Son was to redeem mankind from the bondage of sin (John 3:16). Our relationship with God is affected by sin and the only way to be restored to Him is to be purged from sin. It cost God His only Son to pay the price for sin. If it is easy to do, it doesn’t mean the price to pay is easy. Be intentional and avoid sinful acts as much as possible. Our study of Bethsheba has revealed how a single act of walking on the roof led king David in a roller-coaster of sins. He saw Bethsheba, asked about her, requested for her, slept with her, got her pregnant, wanted to put the blame on her husband, killed her husband and ultimately married Bethsheba. 

Reading this from the viewpoint of a human being, the whole drama is naught. How can someone be this heartless to destroy another like that. If you felt this way, imagine God! All this while, Bethsheba was the one who had to endure the pain of cheating on her husband, the pain of losing her husband and becoming a widow. Her widowhood didn’t last for long because she moved to the palace as the wife of David. Though David might have felt a sigh of relief after all this, God wasn’t pleased at all. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and David and Bethsheba’s secret sin would have to be paid for publicly. God sent prophet Nathan to rebuke David. The prophet gave a story of a poor man and a rich man and how the rich man left all he had to kill the only ewe of the poor man. David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” (2 Samuel 12:5‭-‬6). David did not know that he was the culprit in this story. He was ready to kill the rich man for his greed.

But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.” (2 Samuel 12:14)

When Nathan explained to David that the story refers to him, David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.” (2 Samuel 12:13‭-‬14). The Lord hated the sin of David and Bethsheba such that the innocent child wasn’t going to live. After all the drama, David and Bethsheba would not enjoy the fruit of their sinful act. When Bethsheba delivered, the child was struck with an illness. David prayed, fasted, pleaded with God, laid on the floor and did everything possible but God was not pleased. Ultimately, the child died. Bethsheba had to deal again with another loss, this time the loss of a child. She lost Uriah and now she had lost the child she had with David. As difficult as her grief might be, God hates sin and that child was the representation of the sinful action that led to the death of Uriah. 

This story teaches us that God is just and He “will repay each person according to what they have done” (Romans 2:6). The story also teaches that God sees the secrets of each person. Nothing is hidden from Him. David and Bethsheba sinned in secret but God rebuked them openly. The verdict was brutal:  “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ ” (2 Samuel 12:11‭-‬12).

God created sexual intimacy but whenever it is done outside marriage, the beautiful act is called sin. Revelation 21:8 designates the final destination of sinners including the sexually immoral; “they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” 

It is better we tame our emotions than allow our emotions to tame us. If it cannot be done with the knowledge of people, think twice before you do. Our feelings are not an excuse to sin. Control that feeling before it controls you. No sane person walks into fire because they feel cold. Similarly, we shouldn’t walk into sin because we feel like it. God hates sin!

Deborah: A prophet, a wife and a judge

Juggling between work and family has become the norm for the 21st century woman. Each of these responsibilities demands commitment and dedication. Imagine going to work for 8 hours or more in a day and having to take care of the family (husband and kids) afterwards. This may sound tiring but the average ‘working class married woman’ is committed to both home and office. This isn’t new, even in the olden times, some women relentlessly juggled between home and work and were still considered good at both places. A typical example of such women is Deborah. When the Israelites arrived in the promised land, before they had kings, they were ruled by Judges. The judges were like prime ministers. They ensured that the people lived right and in safety. Naturally, you would expect such a daunting responsibility to be given to strong and mighty men considering the fact that battles were constantly fought during those times. The nation of Israel itself was quite rebellious and they were stiff-necked people. Like the 21st century world, each one wanted to do what pleases them with little disregard for God. Their disobedience landed them in different battles and the Lord raised the judges to help them win their battles and to maintain law and order. 

Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. (Judges 4:4)

With such a job description, you might consider the strong and mighty warriors to be qualified to judge the nation. Of course, Israel had strong and mighty (physical strength) judges who helped them to defeat their enemies. One unlikely judge was Deborah. “Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time” (Judges 4:4). Deborah’s job description begins with a prophetic ministry, her role as a wife and her office as a judge. As a judge, “she held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided” (Judges 4:5). How was she able to hold her home together in addition to her prophetic and executive responsibilities? Deborah would have been a confident woman who knew what to do at every time. She wouldn’t spend unnecessary time doing unnecessary things. She would have been committed to building her home, her ministry and work. Obviously, Lappidoth her husband might have been instrumental in all this. Deborah was a God-fearing woman, a go-getter, a purpose driven leader, a mother and a lover of her husband. She embodied all these together and still excelled in all.

When Jabin, king of Hazor and Sisera, his army commander, oppressed the Israelites (for the Israelites turned away from God), Deborah had to lead the people to battle. “She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor” (Judges 4:6). Although God had promised them victory,  Barak’s reply was, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” (Judges 4:8). Deborah did not shudder, she accepted the challenge and led Israel to battle. God granted them astounding victory over their enemies. Deborah, the prophet and the wife of Lappidoth had a music ministry as well, that is she was a worshiper. After their victory, she sang the song of Deborah (Judges 5). One woman, different responsibilities, and yet able to play all these roles to the fullest. Deborah was not your everyday woman. She was made for more. She defied the status quo,  and did what was ascribed to mighty men. She did not allow societal perception to affect her. She was a woman who knew her call and she worked hard to ensure that she fulfilled her call. 

Deborah, just the Proverbs 31 woman reminds us that you can have it all and do it all. Her rise to the top did not make her rise above her husband. The challenge of our generation is that when some women take on responsibilities that make them higher and more publicly seen and respected than their husbands, they expect their husbands to pay “homage” to them. With all the social accolades, Deborah still remained the wife of Lappidoth. She submitted to him and he was the head. 
Dear married man, don’t be jealous when your wife rises higher than you. Help her to shine in her career or ministry. Be a shoulder to lean on and be praying for her. 
Dear woman, no matter how high you rise, you cannot rise above the standard of God. You can be a wife, a warrior, a professional, and any other position. You were made for more. Don’t allow your career to ruin your home. Have a Deborah mindset. 

Miriam: Positioned for deliverance

Children are considered vulnerable in rescue missions. In fact, before any rescue mission,  all children are taken to a safe place for their protection and guidance. Children could be  superstars in anime but in reality, they are vulnerable and need protection. In the Bible, there were a few instances where children became susceptible to harsh edicts. For example, Pharaoh’s edict to drown the Hebrew baby boys (Exodus 2) and Herod’s edict to kill all baby boys until the age of two (Matthew 2:16-18). Moses, and all the baby boys born around the same time as him, were condemned to die. Moses’ mother’s brilliant rescue mission had a child superstar who made the mission successful. Miriam, the sister of Moses, was very instrumental in the rescue mission. While many young girls would have been sad because of the impending “doom” for their siblings, Miriam demonstrated strength and positive impact.  She did not miss the “drama” of the baby in the Nile. But,  she directed the storyline and ensured that ultimately, her brother was taken care of by the right woman. 

His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” (Exodus 2:4‭, ‬7)

Out of fear, Jochebed, Moses’ mother, set him off in a well secured basket. But, “his sister [Miriam] stood at a distance to see what would happen to him” (Exodus 2:4). Even as a child, Miriam was determined to see the rescue of her brother. When the baby in the basket was finally rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter, Miriam was right there to give an important recommendation. Miriam, asked “Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother” (Exodus 2:7-8). Moses, the Prince of Egypt was nurtured by his Hebrew mother because Miriam had positioned herself for the deliverance. Several years later, after the great Red sea deliverance, Miriam joined Moses in singing praise to God. Exodus 15:20 quotes that “Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing.” Miriam had a prophetic ministry. She was not just a child superstar, but a God-fearing adult. Miriam had her weaknesses as well. She and Aaron, her other brother, spoke against Moses and God was enraged and Miriam suffered leprosy for the way she spoke against Moses (Numbers 12).

Miriam as a child saved a whole nation by positioning herself at the right place to offer the right advice. As an adult, Miriam had a prophetic ministry and supported the ministry of Moses. But, she still had a weakness. She spoke ill about Moses and God was not pleased. For seven days, Miriam lived as an outcast because of leprosy. There are many Miriams in the church and the communities we live in. They will go all out to ensure that one soul is saved. They risk their lives to ensure the safety of others. They don’t give up on the weak and the vulnerable. Miriams are not afraid to give counsel to the strong and powerful. They are not scared by the presence of powerful authority. Like Irena Sendler, the polish woman who rescued 2500 Jewish children from the holocaust, Miriam saved a whole nation by rescuing the baby Moses. 

When God places us in a position to save the weak and the vulnerable, we should not be afraid of what we cannot do. Rather, we should focus on what God can do through us. We are on a rescue mission and each day is an opportunity to save a soul, to rescue the perishing, to care for the dying and to snatch those who are in the grips of the enemy. Let’s be intentional to get rid of our weaknesses and develop our strengths. We have been saved to save others, one soul at a time.