“Prophecies, they shall fail” (1 Corinthians 13:8). In most cases they are conditional, e.g. Malachi 4:4, 5: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I com and smite the earth with a curse.”
If the father’s hearts will not turn to the children and the children’s hearts will not turn to the fathers the earth will be struck with a curse.
Multitudes were baptized with a baptism of repentance under the ministry of John the Baptist which in truth was the fulfillment of the prophecies of Malachi 4:4, 5 and Luke 1:17. However, the blessing did not last for long. By the rejection of Jesus as the promised Messiah the Jews were scattered and the land was cursed.
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 prophecies many blessings for Israel but they were conditional upon obedience to God’s commandments. Deuteronomy 28:1: “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God wills et thee on high above all nations of the earth.”
When Israel returned from their being scattered among the nations, their land had been laid waste. Ezekiel, chapters 36 and 37 are amazing prophecies given by Ezekiel of great restoration of the mountains, land, and cities where the curse had fallen. It is very interesting to note that although God says: “I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it” He also says: “I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them” (Ezekiel 36:36-38).
Therefore, these great prophecies are contingent upon the house of Israel making earnest enquiry to the Lord based on the revealed truths in this chapter.
Perhaps the reason why so much of the mountains and hills of Israel are still barren and wasted with many villages and settlements still waiting to be restored is that the children of Israel need to do their part concerning the seeking, praying, and enquiring so these prophecies will be fulfilled.
Prophecies may fail, but God’s love flowing through His people should never fail.
Lamentations 3:22, 23: “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
However, God’s unfailing love is designed to flow through His people to a desperate and needy world that has been deprived and deceived and destroyed regarding the love of God that never fails.
Could it be that we the people of God have failed to be channels for the unfailing love of God? I believe so. There is nothing wrong with God’s unfailing love. The problem is with the failure of His people to be open, clean, and willing channels.
To be continued.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell