Which Prophet Would They Follow?

Jeremiah’s prophecies went against people’s desires, and a number of false prophets were telling them exactly what they wanted to hear.  People find it easy to accept what goes along with their desires and beliefs without question, even when there is evidence it is not true.   Because of such false prophets, Jeremiah’s message went largely unheeded. 

Jeremiah 28:1-4 tells the story of one such false prophecy.  “And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.  Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon: And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.”

Hananiah very carefully worded his claims to sound like it was a message from God.  The people were concerned about the Babylonian occupation, and his prophecy that the occupation would end within two years sounded really favorable.  Few stopped to see if it included a short term prophecy as a sign it was true.  Jeremiah agreed the prophecy sounded good, but as he pointed out, the test of whether a prophecy is from God is whether it comes true or not.  If the prophecy did not happen it would clearly indicate Hananiah was not a true prophet, as he says in Jeremiah 28:5-9.  “Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD, Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD'S house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place.

Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people; The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.  The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.”  The people would be wise to wait and see if the chaldeans withdrew before following Hananiah’s advice. 

 When challenged about his claims, like many other false prophets, Hananiah doubled down on them, as described in Jeremiah 28:10-11.  “Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it.  And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.”  Rather than argue with him, Jeremiah simply walked away. 

God sent Jeremiah back to warn the people that following Hananiah’s advice would only make things worse for them, in Jeremiah 28:12-14.  “Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.  For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.”

As proof that Jeremiah’s prophecy was from God and Hananiah’s was not, God would cause Hananiah to die within a year, as he explained, in Jeremiah 28:15-16.  “Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.  Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD.” 

Hananiah had made his prophecy in the fifth month as Jeremiah 28:1 told us.  Two months later, Hananiah died, according to Jeremiah 28:17.  “So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.”

It is important for us to understand that if a person makes a prophecy that dowen’t happen he is a false prophet.  Following his or her teachings will only lead us further from what God wants.  We need to take the time to check out the prophecies before we follow them.  For example, over the years, many have set specific dates as to when the Lord will return which have not happened.  As a result, many people no longer believe in the Lord’s return, and do not take the biblical teachings about judgement seriousle, despite the number of biblical prophecies relating to Christ’s return that have been fulfilled, proving that the biblical prophets were speaking the truth.