Jeremiah 28:11 …and he said before all the people, “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.’ ” At this, the prophet Jeremiah went on his way.
Commentary says of Hananiah, who is speaking here, “…he really believed his prophetic word was a message from the Lord,” which has me wondering today about prophets and prophecies and how you know if something is from God or of God or not.
Jeremiah 28:15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies.”
We all have situations in our lives where we want a word from God. We want to know we are doing His will. We are hopeful His will for us and our will for ourselves coincide. How do we discern the true from the false? How do we ensure we are being a Jeremiah and not a Hananiah?
Jeremiah 28:16 “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the Lord.’ ”
Lord, I want Your will for my life more than anything. Help me to discern what that is. Help me to be a Jeremiah—boldly proclaiming and living Your truth, even if it’s not what I would choose for myself—instead of a Hananiah—spreading and believing falsehoods. Draw me closer. Give me clarity. Amen.
Jeremiah 28:17 In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.
Have a blessed day.