There was once a topic on this forum that asked the question, what about failed prophesies in the Bible? I’ve been studying this topic lately reading all that I can on the subject including the books of the prophets in the Old Testament themselves. I still am not completely sure on the answer to all of it but when tackling the question I think that one needs to understand the context of prophesy in Ancient Israel and the Ancient Near East. So, I asked the AI Gemini about it and here was the answer.
Question: There are many Old Testament prophecies that seem to have failed. Why did the ancient Israelites seeing this not lose faith in their prophets and put their writings into their holy books?
Answer: The question of “failed prophecies” in the Old Testament is a complex one, and the fact that ancient Israelites continued to preserve and revere these texts suggests a nuanced understanding of prophecy that differs from a modern, hyper-literal approach. Here are several reasons why ancient Israelites likely didn’t lose faith:
1. Different Understanding of Prophecy:
- Conditional Nature: Many prophecies were likely understood as conditional, meaning their fulfillment depended on the people’s obedience or repentance. The classic example is Jonah’s prophecy against Nineveh: God threatened destruction, but when the city repented, He relented (Jonah 3). This demonstrated God’s desire for reconciliation, not just absolute, predetermined outcomes.
- Forthtelling vs. Foretelling: Prophets often acted as “forthtellers” – speaking God’s word to the present situation, calling for righteousness and warning of consequences for disobedience. While they sometimes foretold future events, their primary role was often to guide and instruct the people in their current ethical and spiritual walk.
- Symbolic and Figurative Language: Much prophetic language is highly poetic, symbolic, and metaphorical. Ancient audiences would have been accustomed to interpreting such language, rather than expecting a strictly literal fulfillment of every detail. For example, descriptions of cosmic upheaval might have signified major political or social changes, not necessarily literal astronomical events.
- Already/Not Yet Fulfillment: Some prophecies may have had multiple layers of fulfillment – a partial fulfillment in the immediate historical context and a more complete or ultimate fulfillment in a distant future (e.g., the “end times” or the Messianic era). This allows for prophecies to be seen as continuously unfolding rather than simply “failed” if they didn’t fully materialize in one specific historical moment.
2. Emphasis on God’s Character and Purpose:
- God’s Sovereignty and Justice: Even when prophecies of judgment seemed unfulfilled or delayed, the Israelites understood this in terms of God’s patience and desire for repentance. Conversely, if prophecies of blessing were delayed, it might be attributed to their own ongoing disobedience or God’s timing. The emphasis was on God’s character as just, merciful, and sovereign, rather than on the prophet’s perfect predictive accuracy as the sole measure of divine truth.
- Covenant Relationship: Prophecy was deeply embedded in the concept of God’s covenant with Israel. The prophecies served to remind the people of their obligations and God’s faithfulness to His promises, even if those promises had conditions or involved periods of discipline.
3. Historical Context and Delayed Fulfillment:
- Long-Term Scope: Many prophecies, especially those concerning the Messiah, the restoration of Israel, or the ultimate future, were understood to have a very long-term scope. The ancient Israelites likely didn’t expect all prophecies to be fulfilled within a single generation or even a few centuries.
- Partial Fulfillment: Some prophecies might have seen partial or symbolic fulfillment, which reinforced faith in the overall message, even if a complete, literal fulfillment was still awaited.
- Redefinition and Reinterpretation: Over time, communities might have reinterpreted prophecies in light of new historical circumstances or theological developments. This doesn’t necessarily mean “explaining away” failures, but rather deepening their understanding of the prophecy’s true meaning and its broader implications for God’s plan.
4. Distinction Between True and False Prophets:
- Deuteronomy 18:21-22: The Torah itself provides a criterion for distinguishing true prophets from false ones: “If a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord but the thing does not take place or prove true, it is a word that the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; do not be afraid of him.” This passage indicates that the Israelites were aware of the possibility of false prophecy and had a standard by which to judge it. However, the application of this standard was likely more nuanced than a simple pass/fail for every single prediction. A true prophet’s overall message and consistent alignment with God’s revealed will were probably more significant than isolated predictions.
- Consistent Message: True prophets often delivered consistent messages aligned with the Mosaic Law and the covenant, even if the timing or exact details of their predictions varied.
In conclusion, the ancient Israelites’ retention of prophetic writings, even those with seemingly “unfulfilled” elements, suggests a sophisticated understanding of prophecy that allowed for conditionality, symbolism, long-term scope, and an overarching focus on God’s character and covenant faithfulness, rather than a strict adherence to every literal detail of every prediction within a limited timeframe.
