When Elohim brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, He brought them to Mount Sinai. In the presence of all, He descended on the mountain top in a blaze of fire. Lightning streaked violently across the sky as thick smoke rose up into the air. Men, women and children looked on in fright as the long blast of a trumpet, shook the earth beneath their feet, drowning out the loud rumbles of thunder. Finally Elohim spoke, revealing the first ten of what would turn out to be many commandments.
Despite this rare honour of hearing the voice of Elohim, His manifestation was much too terrifying for the Israelites to bear. So they pleaded with Moses to stand between them and Elohim. To serve as His messenger.
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. -Exodus 20:18-19
And Elohim agreed, deciding to choose certain people from their midst to carry His word.
The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. -Deuteronomy 18:15-20
For a while, ‘the Prophet’ was an established position among the Israelites. It was understood, that before Elohim did anything, He would first reveal it to His servants, the prophets. So what happened to them? Why doesn’t Elohim speak to the Jews as a nation anymore? Is it because He has said everything that needs to be said, as some believe?
Considering the persecution the Jews face on a daily basis. Their blood being spilled in the Holy Land and all around the world. The different sects among the people, despite His will for us to serve Him in one accord. Considering the threat of Israel’s heritage being divided against His decree, you would think Elohim has a lot to say. After all, despite their rejection, He is still the rightful King of Israel. And any King would want to be involved in matters pertaining to their people and domain. So why does He remain silent?
Through one of His prophets, Elohim revealed that a time was coming when He would refrain from speaking to the Israelites. As punishment!
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. -Amos 8:11
When Elohim first visited the Israelites in the wilderness, they agreed as a nation to listen to the voice of the prophets and keep all the words of the Torah. And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, 'All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.' (Exo 24:3)
Yet before they could even make it out of the wilderness and into the land, they had already ditched Elohim for a golden calf, the pretty faces of Midianite women, and for Baal. Unfortunately, this was a recurring pattern with the Israelites that didn't die in the wilderness, but persisted even after they took possession of the land. Something that always displeased Adonai. So He would send his prophets to admonish the people, warning them of the consequences of rebelling against Him and urging them to turn back from their wicked ways, describing their rich reward if they obeyed.
As we all know, most of these prophets were scorned, persecuted and killed. During Jezebel’s reign, Elijah a man found worthy of Ascension had to flee into the wilderness. A hundred other prophets were forced to hide in caves, fearing her wrath. Just because Micaiah refused to comfort Ahab by prophesying lies, he was thrown into prison. And by orders of the king of Israel, fed bread and water sparingly.
Imagine that!
Elohim’s own messengers were hunted and murdered in His own backyard. If David felt the need to avenge his messengers and his honour after they were unwillingly shaved by those who were taken for friends, how much more will Hashem desire vengeance over the deaths of His holy ones! Those He sanctified unto Himself?
So Elohim did as He would always do when Israel’s cup of iniquity begins to overflow. He hid His face from the people.
You neglected the Rock who begot you, and forgot the God who gave you birth. “The Lord saw this, and spurned them because of the provocation of His sons and daughters. “Then He said, ‘I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end shall be; for they are a perverse generation, sons in whom is no faithfulness. -Deuteronomy 32:18-20
A threat He began to pull off in ernest when His presence departed from the Temple.
Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim. When the cherubim departed, they lifted their wings and rose up from the earth in my sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. -Ezekiel 10:18-19
In doing so, He was disassociating Himself from the Jews. Making it clear that He was very angry with them and their relationship was in jeopardy. Until one day, He cut them off. Something that remains a mystery to them, even now.
Like most people caught up in anger, He didn’t want to speak with them. His Law was too much for them, and their iniquities were too much for Him. So for a very long time, He didn’t need a prophet. It was a waste of time. They rejected His guidance and their fall was already determined. Why should He risk the lives of the few righteous people left to Him by sending them to speak to a people determine to rebel?
So He chose to become silent. Preferring to watch until the nations have completely scattered the power of His people, as the man revealed to Daniel in vision.
And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. - Daniel 12:7
Nevertheless, a day is coming when Adonai will say, enough is enough. Desiring to return to His Temple in the midst of His people.
Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing toward the east; and behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate facing toward the east. And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house. -Ezekiel 43:1-2,4-5
And He will once again raise up a Prophet who will cry, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.” A prophet with the mission to convert the hearts of Jews and Israelites back to the covenant He made with their fathers (Mal 4:5-6).
Are Jews ready for Elijah? Will they listen to the voice crying in the wilderness? Or will he be rejected by his generation like all His brothers before Him?