Among the people of Israel, the false prophets were notable, they made the people believe in false and invented words so that the people would walk on evil and dangerous paths.
Throughout biblical history, false prophets have been one of the greatest dangers to the spiritual life of God’s people. They did not always appear openly opposed to God; on the contrary, many of them spoke in His name, used religious language, and pretended to carry divine authority. However, their message was empty of truth and filled with deception, leading many hearts away from obedience and holiness.
The false prophets brought false hope to those who followed the way of the Lord to deceive them and take them away from God’s purpose, but you know what? Soon they would receive their rewards according to their evil deeds.
These men were not interested in repentance, justice, or faithfulness to the covenant. Instead, they spoke words that pleased the ears of the people, promising peace where there was no peace and blessing where there was rebellion. Their goal was not to glorify God, but to exalt themselves, gain influence, and maintain control over those who listened to them.
Many of these false prophets made many of the people fall for their lies, thus doing everything that was not pleasing to the Lord.
As a result, the people began to drift away from God’s commandments, trusting human words instead of divine truth. When error is repeated often enough, it can begin to feel like truth, and that is why discernment has always been essential for the people of God. The Lord never left His people without warning; He constantly sent true prophets to expose lies and call the nation back to repentance.
The Lord is Almighty, whether from afar or up close, He finds us and sees us, that is why we see these words spoken by the Lord to those false prophets:
Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?
Jeremiah 23:23
With these words, God clearly declares His omnipresence. No one can hide from Him, and no false word can escape His judgment. The false prophets believed that God was distant, unaware, or indifferent, but the Lord reminded them that He sees all things and knows the intentions of the heart.
The Lord reminded those false prophets that God was closer than they believed, since no matter where they were, they would receive their punishment for leading the children of God by another path.
This message was not only a warning to those prophets, but also a lesson for the people: God is always present. He listens, He observes, and He judges with righteousness. Those who misuse His name will not go unpunished, even if for a time they seem to prosper or be accepted.
The judgment of those false prophets was closer than they thought. Today there are also false prophets, that is why we also have the Words of the Lord so that we can recognize when there is a false prophet who wants to deceive us and divert us from the purpose of the Lord.
In our days, false prophets may not always stand on public squares, but they often appear through teachings that distort Scripture, messages that minimize sin, or doctrines that exalt human desires above God’s will. That is why it is vital to remain grounded in the Word of God, testing every teaching and every message against the truth of Scripture.
The Lord calls His people to be vigilant, to seek wisdom, and to walk in obedience. When we know God’s Word and maintain a close relationship with Him, we are less likely to be deceived. Let us remember that God is not far away; He is near to those who seek Him with sincerity, and He continues to guide His people in truth.
May we always choose to listen to the voice of the Lord and not be led astray by false teachings, holding firmly to the truth that comes from God alone.