False Hope

In the midst of our trials and struggles it is good to hear someone say, “It’s going to be okay.” The problem is that we think that “being okay” is the way it used to be. So many times when we come out of trials in life normal isn’t normal any more. Being all right doesn’t look like it used too.

This “false hope” is as old as time itself, and can cause a lot of damage. This happened in Jerusalem after the Babylonians had taken over, and removed people and valuables to Babylon. A false prophet named Hannaniah told the people left what they wanted to hear. “In less than two years everything will return to normal”.  Meanwhile God had the true prophet, Jeremiah wearing a wooden animal yoke to show the bondage.

Look what happens in Jeremiah 28:12-17, ¹² After the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ¹³ “Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will get a yoke of iron. ¹⁴ This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.’” 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. 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.’” ¹⁷ In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.

What false prophets do we hear from today, and how can you recognize them?

Be wise today and always – live by the truth.