Why does God allow false prophets to influence the church? Do they have any purpose in the world? They deceive people and lead them astray. Why doesn't God just get rid of them all and make life easier?
Dueteronomy 13:3 says that they are a test to show where our heart is. "Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD you God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul." We often judge people on their outward appearance but God looks at our hearts. Jeremiah 5:31 tells us of Israel's poor spiritual condition. "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?" The Jews had fallen away from their God to follow the lies of false prophets and priests.
In 1 Kings 22, false prophets were part of God's judgement on Israel. The Israelite king Ahab wanted to go to war against the Syria. About 400 prophets were prophesying victory for Israel. Then the prophet Micaiah prophesied defeat for Israel. In verses 19-23, Micaiah 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. And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. 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. 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." King Ahab went to war anyway and died in the battle. Israel was scattered. This was God's judgement on Israel for their wickedness.
Some assume that God will not allow the possibility of his people being affected by false prophets. Dueternomy 18:20-22 did not give the Israelite people such assurance but rather told them how to respond to false prophets. "But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."
These examples show us that God does allow false prophets and that they may have a purpose. They can expose the heart of God's people as a test. They can also be a part of God's judgement as in the case of king Ahab.
Dueteronomy 13:3 says that they are a test to show where our heart is. "Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD you God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul." We often judge people on their outward appearance but God looks at our hearts. Jeremiah 5:31 tells us of Israel's poor spiritual condition. "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?" The Jews had fallen away from their God to follow the lies of false prophets and priests.
In 1 Kings 22, false prophets were part of God's judgement on Israel. The Israelite king Ahab wanted to go to war against the Syria. About 400 prophets were prophesying victory for Israel. Then the prophet Micaiah prophesied defeat for Israel. In verses 19-23, Micaiah 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. And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. 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. 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." King Ahab went to war anyway and died in the battle. Israel was scattered. This was God's judgement on Israel for their wickedness.
Some assume that God will not allow the possibility of his people being affected by false prophets. Dueternomy 18:20-22 did not give the Israelite people such assurance but rather told them how to respond to false prophets. "But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."
These examples show us that God does allow false prophets and that they may have a purpose. They can expose the heart of God's people as a test. They can also be a part of God's judgement as in the case of king Ahab.
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