“I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.” (Deuteronomy 18:15-20)

Moses here gives instructions to the people about prophets. Priests had authority to speak on behalf of the Lord regarding His Law. A prophet, however, was one who could speak the word and will of God. He would speak what God told Him to speak to guide people in righteousness, warn them of the consequences of sin, compromise and immorality, and, at times, predict the future.

The danger here was that any one could come and claim to be God’s spokesman. One way in which to prevent this was to destroy every vestige of pagan worship. The Lord hated and detested the religions of idolaters and so forbade His people to practice any of their ways including fortunetelling, magic and spiritism. The people of God were to execute anyone using these methods who claimed to speak for the Lord.

Today we have many who claim to be prophets set themselves up as authorities and seers who can tell people how they should live and who claim to be able to predict the future. Many media talking heads, politicians and celebrities claim to speak with authority and wisdom, but usually, their words do not come Almighty God. Many Christians follow such ungodly wolves in sheep’s clothing because of their flashy and “dynamic” presentations and ministries. Yet they ignore what the Church has to offer humble, godly pastors who preach the word of God, warn of the dangers of immorality and intercede for the people of God before His throne. The Lord will bless those that are His.