When the Prophets are Silent
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When the Prophets are Silent
One morning, as the sun began to peek through the windows, I casually glanced at my calendar. The date on the calendar reminded me that the next presidential election was just days away. It’s hard to forget with all the constant coverage on the local news stations.
I began to think about the upcoming election and how it differed from the last presidential election season. I noted one huge difference.
In 2020, there was a significant emphasis on prophetic messages and divine revelations regarding the upcoming election. Many individuals claiming to have received insights from God were vocal in sharing their predictions. However, this year’s election has unfolded in a notably different manner. It is striking that there seems to be a lack of prophetic voices making predictions about the election’s outcome.
It seems many are silent.
I recall another time in biblical history when there was silence. This silence lasted for 400 years.
The “400 Years of Silence” is the term theologians use to describe the period between the Book of Malachi and the beginning of the New Testament and its Gospels. During this time, there was a lack of prophetic words from the Lord. Before that period, God had communicated with His people in various ways, such as walking with Adam in the Garden of Eden and speaking directly to Abraham. He also communicated with Moses through a burning bush. However, historical records indicate that He did not speak for 400 years.
If you study this time, you will learn something insightful. Just because God was not speaking did not mean He had abandoned His people. No, quite the opposite. During that time, God was setting the stage for the redemption He had already promised. As the Bible declares, He was working all things for our good (Romans 8:28).
Between the final words of the Book of Malachi and the opening words of the New Testament, circumstances were being created for the arrival of our Savior, Jesus Christ, on earth. During this period, God was actively at work, orchestrating events to bring about the fulfillment of His divine plan for His people.
It was during this period of silence that the Pax Romana took place. It was roughly a 200-year-long period of Roman history, identified as a golden age of increased and sustained Roman imperialism, relative peace and order, prosperous stability, and regional expansion. A time of relative peace.
Also, during that time, roadways were put in place, and a reliable mail system was built, setting the stage for those who would become apostolic leaders to travel and send letters to those longing to hear the gospel. In addition, synagogues were being established all over, becoming the future ground for Christian gatherings.
All these things were taking place while God was seemingly silent.
Then, abruptly, the years of silence ended. He was picking up right where Malachi left off.
They ended with Zacharias, a faithful priest, and a visit from the angel Gabriel. “Your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son . . . He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to prepare a people for the Lord” (Luke 1:13-17).
During this period, when God seemed distant, He was working out His plan. Understanding what occurred during those 400 years may help us comprehend other times when it seems God is silent and aloof.
Have you ever experienced times in your life when it felt as if God were silent, elusive, and nowhere to be found? Was it at a time in your life when you needed to hear His voice the most? I know I have.
God will never leave us nor forsake us. (Deut 31:6)
This promise from God is a comforting truth that we can hold onto. He has assured us that He will always be by our side, never abandoning us. His faithfulness and reliability are unwavering, and His word can always be trusted. Even during moments when it seems like His presence is elusive, we can take solace in knowing that He is actively shaping every circumstance for our benefit.
What is our role, then? It’s to keep seeking God and His word, to keep growing spiritually, to persist, and to move forward in faith. Trust that He is a God of His word.
The 400 years of silence in biblical history, during which God did not communicate directly with His people, serves as a powerful reminder of God’s constant presence and activity, even in times when it may seem like He is distant. Despite the silence, God’s ultimate plan unfolded when He broke His silence, and the Word became flesh. This period of silence serves as a hopeful reminder that even when we feel like our prayers are unanswered and declarations seem unheard, there is a divine timing for everything. When God speaks again, the manifestation of our prayers and declarations over our lives, families, and nations will become evident. May we patiently wait for His timing and trust that His word will come to pass.
Are you encouraged? Please share this article with a friend.
Kim Potter is the author of Deeper Still, a 90-day devotional on a deeper relationship with God. She is also the founder of A New Thing Ministries, which sends a daily teaching to thousands of people all around the world. Her articles have appeared on The Elijah List, in Charisma Magazine, and on Spirit Fuel and iBelieve.com. Kim’s message is one of hope. She speaks to the hearts of those who have grown discouraged or disappointed by the circumstances of life, to impart hope. To order her new book or receive her daily encouraging writings, visit her website at www.anewthingministries.com, or Books Archives – A New Thing Ministries. Photo credit: Jasper Boer on Unsplash.
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Comments
I am not sure which prophetic voices you’re referring to, but almost daily trusted prophetic voices are speaking loud and clear
(Applause,applause) My own heart has been much comforted by the lack of prophetic deluge that accompanied the last election. We are in a season where Farther desires each one to hear Him for themselves and where He is urging us to turn from unbelief and believe His word. When I was in Israel in 2016, I stood on Mount Gerizim – the Mount of Blessing – in a vineyard owned by Orthodox Jews and worked by Gentile believers. As we stood and prayed over Shechem – now called Nablus – the words of Amos 9:14 came up in my spirit,”Yes, I will restore the captivity of my people Israel. They were rebelled distillated cities and dwell in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine. Yes they will also make gardens and eat their fruit.” Amos had prophesied this hundreds of years before I stood there and yet God’s promise was being fulfilled down to the detail even weaving in his prophetic promises that the Gentiles would come and help! I love your article because when God is silent we can know for certain that he is working toward the restoration of all things. With Him, we can laugh the laugh of Psalm 2, assured that at the end, his son will be sitting on his holy mountain ruling over the nations. Maranatha!
Yes, we walk by faith and not by sight (or hearing) – standing on the promises in God’s living, eternal Word – we can hear His voice through His Word, His Holy Spirit and there’s more – “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4)
In the times I feel God is being silent with me, I am then convicted to consider if I am truly listening or if I have become too busy, or too attuned to other voices I have allowed into my life? In times of silence I remember Job and what he said –
Job was wanting a face to face with God but said he had looked to the north, south, east and west and simply could not find God anywhere. BUT – then Job said this about God – “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)
Job had faith – even though he had lost sight of God, Job knew and acknowledged that God hadn’t lost sight of him, but knew exactly where he was and what he was going through. I often feel like calling out with Habakkuk – “How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but You do not listen? Or cry out to You ‘Violence!’ but You do not save? Why do You make me look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.” (Habakkuk 1:1-4)
Truly there is “nothing new under the sun.” Habakkuk accurately describes my feelings about what I see going on all around me today in our country and in the world. My faith and hope are in God alone. He alone is Sovereign over the affairs of men. http://www.mtothe5th.wordpress.com
The prophets aren’t silent. They just don’t have a huge platform like the self proclaimed prophets who prophesied incorrectly four years ago. And God is not release them to speak.
God is removing the false prophets, and in time he will raise the true prophets.
The message these true prophets have will not be received until the time is right.
Put your hope in God in times of national trouble and turmoil:
https://theprayersentry.com/2024/10/31/read-the-signs-prepare/
Prophetic words spoken today by whom? To me everything in this world / this life / this tyme is always in HIS control. There be not any prophets today, merely opinions broadcast to the public na sadly quite often thee ignorant by so called pundits na polls.
Father God, we know your present always you love us, and you will always be with us. Thank you for this. Reminder. May we stand strong and faithful always in Jesus name we love you, Lord amen
Just like Israel cried out to the Lord during those silent years because they were being oppressed by a tyrannical government, so we have cried out to God for this last four years, for Him to redeem us and to give us grace, Even though we don’t deserve it, we have pleaded with God that He would deliver us. We l know that he will.