Beware of false prophets

Deuteronomy Chapter 13

The Israelites are still being warned about the temptations of idolatry: Suppose, says Moses, that there are prophets among you who dream of the future and promise you miracles, and the miracles take place. Then the prophet says to the people to come worship the gods of foreign nations – DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM. The Lord is testing you to see if you love him with all your heart and soul. Obey his commands, listen to his voice. False prophets must be put to death for they encourage rebellion against the Lord your God.

Suppose, says Moses, your brother, son, daughter wife, best friend secretly says “let us go worship other gods.” Or they suggest you worship the gods of other people who live nearby or come from the ends of the earth. If you do this, do not give in or listen. Do not spare or protect them. You must put them to death. You must initiate the execution. Stone the guilty ones to death for trying to lure you away from the Lord.

Suppose, says Moses, you hear in one of the towns that some worthless rabble among you have led citizens astray to worship foreign gods. Examine the facts carefully and if you find it true and can prove that is, you must attack that town and completely destroy it and all its inhabitants and livestock. Then pile the plunder in the middle of the street and burn it. Put the entire town to the torch as a burnt offering to the Lord your God. That town must never be rebuilt. Then the Lord will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you and have compassion and make you a great nations as he promised your ancestors. The Lord will be merciful only if you obey him and keep all the commands.

BIBLE NOTES show that attractive leaders are not always led by God. Moses was warning the people against false prophets. New ideas that inspire sound good, but we must judge them by whether or not they are consistent with God’s word. God is not against new ideas, but he is for discernment. He asks that you examine them carefully.

How does this chapter relate to us in today’s world? We see many attractive prophet-like leaders around us everyday, thanks to the media world. Some are slick and have ulterior motives. We must be able to judge for ourselves if they meet the test of God’s word.

False prophets even today take advantage of the population, especially the poor, the homeless, the elderly. Their hand is always out for money so they can maintain a lavish lifestyle. They feed us a “feel good” philosophy, that does not include the trials and sorrows of the real world. They tempt us to abandon God’s commandments. Listen carefully to that small nagging doubt in your heart, it may be telling you to be careful, to pour your heart to God in prayer.

Yours in Christ,
Mary