In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.
Hebrews 1:1-2
Have you ever wondered whether there are prophets today? If not, why not? In the Old Testament, believers did not experience the indwelling Spirit of God except in rare occasions. The building of the temple in Exodus 31:2 is one example. Israel had to rely on God’s messengers. Israel also didn’t have the Bible we have today. So take away the Holy Spirit and easy access to the Bible and God used men like Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel to get people’s attention.
On this side of the Cross, we have to consider Jesus. The Old Testament is important but we need to consider it in context of the New Testament and Jesus’ actions. God has put the whole Bible together and made it readily available to us as a guide. While He does use people to carry His message, He also relies on the Holy Spirit to draw them and Scripture to give them His word individually. God speaks to individuals now, whereas He used prophets to speak to the masses in the days of the Old Testament. There are no prophets in the New Testament. There are God’s messengers (Paul, John, James, etc.) and they delivered the good news of Jesus and everything they say is filtered through the lens of His life.
God ties the Old Testament and the New Testament together for us completely. The Old Testament shows us our need for a Savior and the Holy Spirit. The New Testament gives us the gospel of Christ’s death and resurrection. Spend time in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. As the entire Bible is the story of our Savior, we need both to understand God. God reveals Himself to you through Scripture. Will you spend time in God’s Word today?
