Isaiah 38:1 *"About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness*" (NLT).
*CONDITIONAL PROPHECIES* (b)
Several years ago, a genuine prophet of God gave a prophetic declaration about the impending danger that will befall a presidential hopeful. I doubt he asked God If there was something that could be done to avert it. He just went ahead and declared what he received from the Lord as he had always done in previous times.
Some other prophets also saw the same thing but this presidential hopeful engaged several men of God to pray with him. A very smart move. Probably, he enquired from the Lord to know If the prediction could be averted through prayers.
In fact, the church( body of Christ) prayed against the prediction and God averted it. The next thing I saw and heard was how people began to call him fake prophet. He was called all sort of names because his prophecy did not come to pass. They forgot that they prayed to avert what he predicted. If they did not believe what he saw was real, why did they pray?
This story is similar to what we read in the opening text. God told prophet Isaiah to tell king Hezekiah that he would die. It was a clear prophetic declaration. Isaiah declared the message as received. Immediately, Hezekiah prayed&wept bitterly.
In Isaiah 38:4-5, the bible says, *"Then this message came to Isaiah from the Lord: [5] “Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life*".
God changed his mind because Hezekiah prayed. He added fifteen more years to his life. I still wonder why we do not pay attention to this scenario when teaching or preaching about prophetic predictions. It is obvious that Isaiah's prophecy was not cast in stone. It was conditional.
Do you know that If Isaiah had lived in our day, some who heard when he made the first declaration would have called him fake? In fact, it would have been worse If God preserved the life of Hezekiah without giving him (Prophet Isaiah) another instruction to reverse the first declaration. Isaiah himself may start doubting his prophetic ministry.
This is the reason believers&prophets need biblical education on how this thing works. When God gives you a word, ask Him to know the conditions surrounding the fulfilment of what He said If there is any. You may enter into serious doubt If you hear the first declaration without knowing the conditions that surrounds it.
*Not every "Thus saith the Lord" will happen without man playing his role. Depending on the nature of prophecy, man may need to pray, change his lifestyle, work hard or change friends&location for certain prophecies to be fulfilled or averted*.
Some recipients of certain promises doubt God because they are yet to see the fulfilment of what He said instead of asking Him to know If there are things to do. For most of the prophetic predictions that pertains to our lives, we have a role to play.
That good thing you heard, saw or received through a genuine prophet of God might need your righteous input. Also, that prediction of danger may require serious engagement of fasting and prayer for it to be averted.
May the Lord give you understanding.
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May the Lord give you understanding