Commentary on "The Prophetic Gift"

COLLEEN TINKER

 

Day 5: Wednesday, January 7, 2009

The purpose of this lesson is to establish that there were prophetesses in Israel. The texts are Exodus 15:20-21, Judges 4:4-10, and 2 Kings 22:11-20. The Exodus passage names Miriam as a prophetess and tells of her leading the women in dancing as she sang a song of God's victory over the Egyptians. Judges 4:4-10 tells of Deborah, the prophetess who judged Israel and went into battle with Barak. 2 Kings 22:11-20 tells of the prophetess Huldah, a contemporary of Jeremiah and Zephaniah, who, during the reign of Josiah, delivered the message of God's judgment against Judah for its apostasy, but gave word to Josiah that God would not bring the disaster until after his death because he had a penitent heart.

In the Teachers Comments on page 25, under "III. Women Prophets: Miraim and Deborah", the comments suggest that Miriam could be viewed as "organizing the first women's ministry department of God's church." It further elaborates on Deborah's influence during the time of the judges—a time of which the Bible says, "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in His own eyes" (Judges 17:6; 21:25). The lesson says this about Deborah: "Deeply spiritual, she ascribed all praise for the victory over the Canaanites to God (vss. [5]:3-5, 13); she did not take any glory for herself or Barak.

This is the description of Deborah leading Barak into war in the Teachers' Comments: "So great was her influence that the great warrior Barak, whom God called to deliver Israel from their enemies, refused to go into battle without Deborah marching with him. Her presence would make it clear that the undertaking was God's will. Barak, a strong and brave warrior, submitted himself to her prophetic guidance. Deborah, though female and no warrior, did not refuse to lead Israel into battle. God shows us through her story that He does not limit Himself to the male gender in calling prophets."

 

Problems

Again, the purpose of this lesson is to normalize Ellen White and her role within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The author seeks to present female prophets—prophetesses—as a typical means of God's communicating with His people.

The Old Testament does name Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah as prophetesses. In fact, the Old Testament mentions two more prophetesses as well. Isaiah 8:3 says Isaiah's wife, who is not named, was a prophetess. Nehemiah 6:14 names a fifth prophetess—but she was a false prophetess: Noadiah, who attempted to deceive Nehemiah during the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem.

The lesson fails to present the implications of the story of Deborah and Barak. First, Deborah was "judging Israel" during this time of apostasy and evil. Judges 4: 1 states, "And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord after Ehud died." Deborah called Barak and apparently reminded him of God's call to him: "Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you, 'Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun" (Judges 4:6b, ESV).

Barak, however, was afraid and said to her, "If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go" (Judges 4:8). He was anything but courageous. He did not trust God to accomplish what He had called him to do, and he insisted a woman go with him into battle. The Teachers Comments say that Barak's request was the result of Deborah's great esteem and influence and that her "presence would make it clear that the undertaking was God's will". Barak, the lesson further states, submitted to her prophetic guidance.

The biblical account, however, suggests otherwise. Barak was apparently weak. Instead of trusting God, he insisted the prophetess go with him. Deborah agreed, but she also foretold that Barak would not get the glory for the victory to which God had called him. Rather, God would deliver Sisera, the enemy, into a woman's hand:

"And she said, 'I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.' Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh" (Judges 4:9, ESV).

Indeed, Jael deceived Sisera and killed him with a tent peg through his head. To be sure, Barak pursued Sisera's army, and Barak's men killed all of them. Sisera, however, escaped, and Jael finally killed him.

Because of his refusal to go on his own, however, Barak did not receive the credit for the ultimate victory over his enemy. A woman is remembered for killing the oppressor.

The Teachers Comments say that Barak was a "strong and brave warrior" who submitted to Deborah's authority, and the author then concludes that this story demonstrates "that [God] does not limit Himself to the male gender in calling prophets."

This conclusion is contrary to the biblical account. The book of Judges is clear that Barak was denied the glory of victory because of his refusal to go into battle without Deborah. Not only was he denied the honor of killing the enemy leader, but a woman was given that honor.

The story of Deborah does not demonstrate that God raises up prophetesses to lead men. Rather, it demonstrates that there are consequences for people who are afraid to embrace what God has called them to do.

Furthermore, the New Testament is clear that today, in the church, we are not to expect prophets with new light or "present truth" not already revealed in the Bible. Hebrews 1:1-2 clearly state that God has spoken to us in Jesus in these last days. Moreover, the "spirit of prophecy" is, according to Revelation 19:10, "the testimony of Jesus". This phrase is clear: the words of Jesus and the witness of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

The new covenant gift of prophecy is always the witness of Jesus and His completed work. People claiming to be prophets but bearing testimony that adds to the gospel or gives new instructions for living are not true prophets of God.

"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8-9, ESV).

"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction" (2 Peter 2:1, ESV).

The Seventh-day Adventists cannot legitimize Ellen White's role and continuing authority in their organization by referring to the stories of Miraim, Deborah, or Huldah. Ellen White's influence was completely different from theirs, and those Old Testament stories do not demonstrate the divine sanction claimed in the Sabbath School lesson.

Moreover, in the new covenant, prophecy is clearly for the edification of the body of Christ, to build it up and bring people into spiritual maturity and the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13) by the declaration of the message of Jesus and His finished work of salvation (Revelation 19:10).

 

Summary

1. The story of Deborah does not demonstrate God's approval and appointment of a woman to lead a man spiritually. Rather, this story demonstrates the consequences of Barak, a warrior, refusing to go to battle unless the prophetess went with him. The final destruction of Sisera, the leader of the enemy forces, was given into the hands of Jael, a woman.
2. In the new covenant there is clear teaching that Jesus is God's final word to us (Hebrews 1:1-2). No new light or present truth will be given through a prophet.
3. The New Testament gift of prophecy is the "testimony of Jesus" (Revelation 19:10), that is, the message from Jesus Himself as well as the personal witness of Jesus and the gospel from those who know Him. The purpose of this witness is the building up of the body of Christ into unity and spiritual maturity until all experience the fullness of Christ.
4. Ellen White's role and authority cannot be validated based on the stories of Miraim, Deborah, or Huldah. None of them wielded the power which Ellen White did. Further, her authority cannot be validated from the New Testament account. Rather, her teachings must be scrutinized by the biblical directives. If she does not teach the same gospel Paul taught, according to Galatians 1:8-9, the gospel which was revealed to Him by the Lord Jesus, she—as well as anyone else who preaches another gospel—must be condemned. She cannot be considered a true prophet of God.

 

Copyright 2008 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised January 6, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.

 

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