Topical Bible: The Fox: False Prophets

◄ The Fox: False Prophets ►

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In biblical literature, the fox is often used metaphorically to describe cunning, deceit, and destruction. This imagery is particularly applied to false prophets and leaders who lead people astray from the truth of God's Word. The fox, as a symbol, captures the essence of those who are sly and crafty, using deception to achieve their ends.

Biblical References:

1. Ezekiel 13:4 : "Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes among the ruins." In this passage, the prophet Ezekiel condemns the false prophets of Israel, comparing them to foxes that prowl among ruins. This imagery suggests that just as foxes exploit the desolation for their own gain, false prophets take advantage of spiritual decay to spread their deceitful messages. They are opportunistic, preying on the vulnerabilities of the people.

2. Song of Solomon 2:15 : "Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom." While this verse is often interpreted in the context of romantic love, it also serves as a metaphor for the small, seemingly insignificant threats that can cause great harm. In a spiritual sense, false prophets are like these "little foxes," subtly undermining the faith and purity of the community, leading to spiritual ruin.

3. Luke 13:32 : "But Jesus replied, 'Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’" Here, Jesus refers to Herod Antipas as "that fox," highlighting his cunning and deceitful nature. While not a prophet, Herod's political maneuvering and moral corruption parallel the behavior of false prophets who manipulate and deceive for personal gain.

Characteristics of False Prophets:

· Deceptive and Cunning: Like foxes, false prophets are skilled in the art of deception. They twist the truth and present lies as if they were divine revelations. Their teachings often contain just enough truth to appear credible, making them particularly dangerous.

· Destructive Influence: False prophets lead people away from the true teachings of Scripture, causing spiritual harm. They exploit the weaknesses and fears of individuals, much like foxes exploit the vulnerabilities of a vineyard.

· Self-Serving Motives: Often, false prophets are motivated by personal gain, whether it be power, wealth, or influence. Their primary concern is not the well-being of the flock but their own advancement.

· Lack of Accountability: False prophets typically operate without accountability, rejecting correction and discipline. They resist the authority of true spiritual leaders and often isolate themselves from the broader community of faith.

Warnings Against False Prophets:

The Bible consistently warns believers to be vigilant against false prophets. In Matthew 7:15 , Jesus cautions, "Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." This warning underscores the deceptive nature of false prophets, who may appear harmless but are, in fact, dangerous.

The Apostle Paul also warns against false teachers in Acts 20:29-30 : "I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them." This passage highlights the internal threat posed by false prophets, who may arise from within the community itself.

Discernment and Protection:

Believers are called to exercise discernment and to test the spirits, as instructed in 1 John 4:1 : "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." This discernment is rooted in a deep understanding of Scripture and a reliance on the Holy Spirit for guidance.

In summary, the metaphor of the fox in relation to false prophets serves as a powerful reminder of the need for vigilance, discernment, and adherence to the truth of God's Word. The imagery underscores the cunning and destructive nature of those who would lead believers astray, emphasizing the importance of remaining steadfast in faith and doctrine.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 13:4
O Israel, your prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

False Teachings of the Apostasy.
... He certainly did not mean that he was truly a fox, but that he had a ... Jesus again
says, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter iii false teachings of.htm

Jacob Boehme: his Life and Spirit
... their relentless pursuit of local prophets that appear ... of God's revelation to let
the false charges against ... Compare George Fox's testimony, "The whole creation ...
/.../chapter ix jacob boehme his.htm

Jacob Boehme's "Way of Salvation"
... and outward imputation of righteousness are false and vain ... Like the prophets of Israel,
he feels intensely the ... did the English Quaker, George Fox, the custom ...
/.../chapter xi jacob boehmes way.htm

Coornhert and the Collegiants --A Movement for Spiritual Religion ...
... unattained good, he tries many false and specious ... availing circumcision, as the
spiritual prophets and apostles ... Galenus Abrahams in the Journal of George Fox. ...
/.../chapter vii coornhert and the.htm

The Doctrine of Non-Resistance to Evil by Force Has Been Professed ...
... of the Quakers and their works"with Fox, Penn, and ... and behold, if the witness be
a false witness, and ... Noah, Moses, and the Prophets taught that he who kills ...
/.../tolstoy/the kingdom of god is within you/chapter i the doctrine of.htm

The Prophet Nehemiah
... "Even that which they build, if a fox go up ... so hard to deal with as one inside"a
false friend ... So Tobiah and Sanballat bought up one of the prophets, and hired ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/iv the prophet nehemiah.htm

Some Gospel Truths Opened, According to the Scriptures; Or, the ...
... The works of Fox, Penn, Barclay, and others, with their books of discipline, and ...
dead, he does not accuse the Society of Friends with holding any false opinions ...
/.../the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/some gospel truths opened according.htm

The Greatest Trial on Record
... to be a prophet, and are these the sons of the prophets who follow ... Nothing can be
more atrociously false. ... to speak, and would not plead before "that fox" at all ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/the greatest trial on record.htm

Paul Before the Council.
... authority to try the pretensions of the Prophets, and to ... of some persons who made
a false show, "but ... not again," called Herod the tetrarch, "a fox," on account ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxvi paul before the.htm

2 Cor. Iii. 1
... And in allusion to the false apostles, he added, "as ... sins but God only; nor did the
prophets bestow that ... the wolf, when thou stealest like the fox, when thou ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily vi 2 cor iii.htm