What role do prophets play in revealing God's plans according to Amos 3:7? Setting the Verse in View “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7) The Unchanging Principle Stated in Amos 3:7 • God acts with purpose and forethought; nothing He does is random. • Before He moves in history, He graciously discloses His intentions. • Prophets serve as His appointed messengers, bridging the gap between heaven’s counsel and earth’s awareness. Who Are the Prophets? • Men and women personally called and commissioned by God (Jeremiah 1:5). • Empowered by the Spirit to speak God’s words faithfully (2 Peter 1:20-21). • Characterized by loyalty to God’s covenant, moral courage, and accuracy in proclamation (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). Why God Chooses to Reveal His Plans • Covenant Relationship – He honors His commitment to make His will known to His people (Genesis 18:17-19). • Invitation to Repentance – Advance warning allows time to turn and live (Ezekiel 33:11). • Validation of His Sovereignty – Foretold events prove that He alone directs history (Isaiah 46:9-10). How Prophets Receive and Communicate Revelation • Visions and Dreams (Numbers 12:6). • Audible Voice or Angelic Messenger (1 Samuel 3:4-11; Luke 1:11-20). • Inner Prompting of the Spirit, later verbalized (2 Samuel 23:2). • Public Declarations, Written Oracles, Symbolic Actions (Jeremiah 19; Ezekiel 4). Supporting Scriptural Examples • Noah warned of the flood long before judgment fell (Genesis 6-7). • Moses foretold the plagues and the Exodus deliverance (Exodus 3-12). • Nathan exposed David’s sin and revealed both consequences and future hope (2 Samuel 12:7-14). • Isaiah announced Cyrus by name nearly two centuries in advance (Isaiah 44:28-45:1). • Christ Himself, the ultimate Prophet, unveiled God’s redemptive plan (Luke 24:25-27). Implications for Us Today • Scripture, completed and authoritative, contains the prophetic testimony we need (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • God’s character has not changed; He still communicates, never leaving His people uninformed or unprepared. • Discernment is essential: test every message by Scripture’s standard (1 John 4:1). • Because God reveals before He acts, believers can trust His timing, walk in obedience, and proclaim His truth with confidence. |
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