The Man of God - Old Testament
The Man & Woman of God - New Testament (Part 1)
There is a distinct difference between the Old Testament man of God and the New Testament man of God. In the Old Testament, the men of God had the Spirit of God "upon" them. Their abilities from God were conditional and not something they always had available to them to use at will. With what Jesus Christ made available for us, men and women of God have the Spirit of God within them. It is the "Christ in you the hope of glory", Colossians 1:27. Through the manifestation of holy spirit, the born again believer who believes to operate the power of God in their lives, have the ability not only to do all of the things the Old Testament men of God did, but greater works. Just as
Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.", John 14:12.
First lets determine what a prophet is. Webster's dictionary defines a prophet as: (1) An authoritative person who foretells the future, (2) Someone who speaks by divine inspiration; someone who is an interpreter of the will of God. In looking at the records of the prophets in the Old Testament this definition is clearly illustrated. There are some of the Old Testament prophets who never foretold any events to come in the future and there are those who's God inspired writings were heavily laced with future events foretold. Another point to observe in the Old Testament is that there are two terms utilized to identify this type of individual, the terms "man of God" and "prophet are synonymous. Terminology wise, this is applicable not only to the Old Testament believers but to the New Testament believers as well. Similarly, "sons of the prophets" was also used to denote men of God. The office of a prophet was sign ificant because the calling of God to be His spokesman required his complete believing in God's ability and a willingness to listen to receive God's instructions. God states in Numbers this particular principle. Numbers 12:6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. If there was a prophet, a man of God, among the people, God would give revelation to him for the people. Let us first look at the Old Testament Man of God (Prophets).
THE OLD TESTAMENT MEN OF GOD (PROPHETS) AND WHAT THEIR ATTRIBUTES WERE:
- THE MAN OF GOD IS REQUIRED TO SPEAK WHAT HE IS INSTRUCTED TO SPEAK
The man prophet, man of God, would receive from God the words to speak and would be bold to speak all God commanded him. “Deuteronomy 18:18; "18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him."
The man of God speaks with the authority of God backing him and no matter if it is a king or a commoner, he is to speak what he is told to speak by God. He is not to "Be not afraid of their faces," their rank or position. God's authority is higher than any man, king, or government leader. "Jeremiah 1:4-10, 17; "4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. 7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 : for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. 10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. 17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them."
The obligation upon a man of God is to give a warning message to those who have headed in the wrong path and if he fails to give the warning the responsibility for the repercussions of those he should have warned if held accountable to him.
"Ezekiel 3:20-21; "20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul."
- GOD HONORS THE WORDS OF HIS SERVANTS
The Word of God says of Samuel, that God "let None of his words fall to the ground." This literally means that when Samuel spoke God confirmed what he spoke with action. God always confirms the the Word spoken by His "men of God" in order that the people would recognize that truly a man of God was among them. "1 Samuel 3:19-20; "19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD."
God honors the word of His servant, Samuel called unto God and God sent thunder and rain, not just an ordinary rain storm, it was strong enough to scare and impress the people with God's power (vrs.18-19). It was bad enough a storm that they just knew they would die, and were moved to repent and ask Samuel to petition God to be saved.
"1 Samuel 12:13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. 14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: 15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers. 16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call
unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. 18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. 20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; 21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. 23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: 24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. 25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king."
Elisha prayed to God that He would make blind the entire army of the Syrians (note: God did not initiate this, it was done at Elisha's request), and they all became blind. He prays for God to open their eyes and were restored their sight. "2 Kings 6:18-23; 18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. 20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? 22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. 23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of
Israel."
3. MEN OF GOD, DIRECT GOVERNMENT LEADERS BY GOD'S WORD, WHEN TO FIGHT TO INSURE THE VICTORY OF HIS PEOPLE.
God established His Word, that even after reducing his army of 32,000 men to just 300 men they would be victorious against all of the Midianites, Amalekites, and people of the east's combined armies. God established His Word through an unlikely source, two of Gideon's soldiers - one who had a prophetic dream and one God gave the revelation of the interpretation of the dream. The leader of God's chosen people upon hearing what was said, glorified God and worshipped Him and returned to tell the people God had given then the victory for certain. "Judges 7:13 And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. 14 And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host. 15 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian."
David, though king of Israel, was a man of God (prophet) and God spoke to him and revealed to him directions as to how to fight the Israel's enemies, as well as when to strike. David did not engage in any battle until he enquired of God as to whether the battle was his to fight. " Samuel 23:1-5: "1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. 2 Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. 4 Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand. 5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah."
Through men of God, God tells leaders when they are not to fight. "1 Kings 12:22-24: "22 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23 Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, 24 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD."
Through men of God, God tells leaders when to fight . "1 Kings 20:28-29; "28 And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 29 And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day."
Disaster to leaders who do not head the Word from God. The King of Judah, Jehoshaphat and the Ahab, King of Israel, were planning to go to war with the Syrians. Ahab had inquired of his approximately 400 false prophets their advice and that had told his there would be victory. Jehoshaphat was smart enough to seek a man of God to see what God said about the situation. The man of God was Micaiah the son of Imlah and his name "Micaiah" means "Who is like Yahweh." According to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:8-9) one should be wary of prophets who prophesy too optimistically about a nations future. Needless to say, Ahab listened to the false prophets, threw the man of God in prison, went to battle and died for not heading the Word of God. "1 Kings 22:4-9; "4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses. 5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day. 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him? 8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. 9 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah."
God allowed the Devil to go out to be a lying spirit in the mouths of Ahab's prophets so that Ahab would fall at Ramoth Gilead in battle. God had declared disaster against Ahab. Ahab refused to follow the true Word from God, put the man of God in prison, and went out to battled and was killed (1 Kings 22:24-37 - full account). "1 Kings 22:19-23; "19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. 21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. 22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. 23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee."
God revealed to Elisha every plan and intention the king of Syria made as it was made in order to prepare Israel for attacks and give them the victory. Elisha knew what the King of Syria even spoke in his bed room (vrs.12), "the man of God" Elisha told the king of Israel where the Syrians would be and saved Israel , (vrs.10) "not once nor twice." That means time after time God's word through Elisha saved Israel. "2 Kings 6:8-12; "8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the
Syrians are come down. 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? 12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber."
Men of God inform leaders when a fight is already won before it is even fought and not to venture out in battle but sit back and watch the hand of God at work. "2 Kings 7:1-7,16; "1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. 2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. 3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in
of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. 5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. 6 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of
Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. 7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life. 16 And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD."
Even while on his death bed, Elisha relayed instruction from God intended to give Israel total victory over Syria once and for all, Joash humors the man of God half heartedly and as requested struck the ground three times with the arrows. The result of this future instruction to fight, after the death of Elisha, resulted in Israel gaining victory over their next three battles with Syria. "2 Kings 13:14-19; "14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. 15 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. 16 And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands. 17 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD'S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. 18 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. 19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice."
God, through the man of God, tells Amaziah not to fight a battle that he had spent a fortune on in preparation. The man of God tells him that if he insists on going to battle he will fall before the enemy. As consolation for the losses, the man of God says that God is able to give Amaziah much more that he spent for not fighting. "2 Chronicles 25:5-9; "5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war,
that could handle spear and shield. 6 He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver. 7 But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. 8 But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down. 9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this."
4. MEN OF GOD SPEAK GOD'S WORD TO CORRECT THOSE WHO ARE IN OPPOSITION TO GOD'S REVEALED WORD AND WILL.
The man of God warns the people of the disaster to come from worshiping Idols (even idol worship today) and the people repented and served God and avoided the disaster from the Philistines. "1 Samuel 7:3-4; "3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only."
The man of God, Jeremiah spoke the Word from God to Israel to return to God and His way, and God would not bring disaster upon them. Israel had committed adultery in the eyes of God by once again turning to worship Idols of stone (Jeremiah 3:8-11). "Jeremiah 3:12; "12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever."
The man of God, Jeremiah. God through Jeremiah told Judah and Israel that He had sent them all His servants and prophets urging them to return to Him. That He would bring all of the evil pronounced against them because He had called and spoken to them and they did not answer Him. "Jeremiah 35:15-17; "15 I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me. 16 Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me: 17 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered." Repeatedly, Israel and Judah turned from God and rejected His Word He gave the men of God to speak to them warn them. Over and over the same lesson is to be learned regarding what happens to a nation that rejects God's place in guiding that nation.
The man of God, Hosea son of Beeri, told of the healing and restoration God would anoint Israel with if the would repent the breach of her covenantal relationship with God by mixing pure worship of God with idolatry. (Idolatry today is worshiping, putting anything before God in our life). "Hosea 6:1-3; "1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."
These are just a very few example out of many examples in the Old Testament, of men of God calling the nations back to God. God's Word covers every conceivable serious error that can be committed by a country that would require repentance in order to stave off disaster. Truly lessons leaders of nations should be aware of today, or at least seek out men of God for counsel.
- GOD PROTECTS MEN OF GOD, HIS SERVANTS
The account of a man of God out of Judah shows several things about the man of God. The record does not give the prophets name, just that he was a prophet from the southern region to deliver a message to the northern cult Jeroboam had established in Israel, by taking it upon himself to appoint his own religious centers, festivals, and priesthood. "1 Kings 13:1-3: "3 And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee. 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out."
