The Prophet And The Supernatural

Don Hawley

December 18, 2004

Several years ago a high-profile prophet appeared on a hot day wearing a heavy overcoat. When questioned about his strange attire, he predicted that in the near future it was going to snow on a particular day. Since snow just didn't appear at that time of year in that area, it was easy to write him off as merely eccentric. However, it did snow on the set day that he had prophesied.

Later, when planning a trip to the West Coast, this same man predicted that the day after his arrival there would be a significant earthquake in California. And the earth did quake.

So, we have a true prophet, right? Maybe. Maybe not.

Lives in peril

The Bible records a fierce storm on the Sea of Galilee, one that threatened the small boat containing Jesus and his disciples. The Lord was sleeping peacefully in the back of the boat, but his followers awakened him in terror.

"When he woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, 'Quiet down!' Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm."

Mark 4:39

The disciples were in awe. "Who is this man, that even the wind and waves obey him?"

No ordinary storm

Those tough old fishermen had been raised on the shores of Galilee, and many times they had ridden out heavy gales. But that was no ordinary storm. It was supernatural in nature.

Question. Did Jesus whip up this special storm so that he could show off his divine powers? I don't think so.

Then who did orchestrate that fierce weather phenomenon?

"You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air." Eph. 2:2.

The storms that churn around the world on a daily basis originate in the atmosphere, the air. And the devil exercise his power in that arena, as he did one night on the Sea of Galilee.

Can Satan also produce earthquakes? I'm sure he can do that as well--and does. Since the dawn of time the devil has delighted in taking away thousands of lives through tornadoes, hurricanes, and other forces of nature that ignorant people call "acts of God." However, his power has always been held somewhat in check, otherwise he long ago would have completely eliminated the entire human race. Just prior to the return of our Lord the "winds" will be released in an unprecedented way, and multitudes will perish as recorded in the book of Revelation.

How then shall we judge the prophets?

Are supernatural forecasts, then, the proof of a true prophet? Obviously not. Then if we can't even trust our own senses in this regard, how shall we judge? Are we at the mercy of false prophets? Not at all.

"Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart. You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit." Matt. 7:15, 16.

If we have opportunity to observe the life of one who professes to be a prophet of God, we may be able to determine the truthfulness of their profession by the way they live. But what if we truly are a poor judge of character, or we don't live where we can observe the life of the professor? Is there another way to discern? Yes! Our Lord has made special provision that we shall be able to ascertain truth. Jesus said:

"It is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don't the Counselor won't come. If I do go away he will come because I will send him to you . . . When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth." John 16:7, 13.

We are moving into an era when Satan will work with unprecedented guile and deceit.

"For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great miraculous signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God's chose ones. See, I have warned you." Matt. 24:24, 25.

But we have an indwelling Spirit whose work it is to guide us into right paths. How important that we establish, and maintain, an intimate relationship with him, so that we recognize his quiet, protective voice.