Old Testament Prophets
“Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.’” — 2 Chronicles 20:20, NKJV
These devotional questions are original writing for this site, not the official Sabbath School quarterly. Read the full official lesson at ssnet.org.
Last week we met a few of the people God called to be His prophets. This week we look closer at what their lives were actually like.
They were not superheroes. They grew afraid, discouraged, and tired. Some faced pressure to lie. Some were women trusted with messages that changed the course of a nation. And some who claimed to speak for God never really heard from Him at all.
As you read this week, notice how honestly the Bible describes these very human messengers — and what that honesty can teach us about our own calling.
A Man Like Us
Elijah had just seen fire fall from heaven on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). It was one of the greatest victories of his life. But soon after, he ran from Jezebel's threats and asked God to let him die (1 Kings 19:1–4). James says Elijah “was a man with a nature like ours” (James 5:17). Even the greatest prophets grew tired, afraid, and discouraged.
What did Elijah ask God for in 1 Kings 19:4, right after his greatest victory?
He asked God to take his life, saying he was no better than his fathers. Even after seeing God work so powerfully, Elijah fell into deep discouragement.
What does James 5:17 mean when it says Elijah “was a man with a nature like ours”?
Elijah wasn't a superhero. He felt fear, doubt, and exhaustion just like we do. His power came from God, not from being naturally stronger than other people.
How did God respond to Elijah's despair in 1 Kings 19:5–8?
God didn't scold him. He sent an angel to feed him and let him rest, not once but twice, before asking him to keep going.
Have you ever felt discouraged right after a time when God clearly worked in your life? Why do you think that happens?
A personal question worth sitting with — even great victories can leave us spiritually and physically drained.
Telling the Truth, Whatever It Costs
King Ahab had four hundred prophets who told him exactly what he wanted to hear. Only one prophet, Micaiah, told him the truth — even though it meant prison (1 Kings 22:1–14). True prophets speak what God gives them, not what people want to hear.
Why did King Ahab say he hated the prophet Micaiah (1 Kings 22:8)?
Ahab said Micaiah never prophesied anything good about him, only evil. He hated Micaiah simply for telling the truth.
What pressure was put on Micaiah before he spoke to the king (1 Kings 22:13)?
A messenger told him to agree with the other four hundred prophets and speak encouragement to the king. Micaiah faced real pressure to lie.
How did the people describe Samuel the prophet in 1 Samuel 9:6?
They called him “an honourable man,” someone whose words always came true. A faithful prophet's life earned that kind of trust over time.
Why is it hard to keep telling the truth when everyone around you is saying something different?
A personal question — Micaiah's story shows that faithfulness sometimes means standing completely alone.
What Prophets Actually Did
Prophets weren't just fortune-tellers. They taught the people, corrected kings and priests, and sometimes wrote down God's messages so they would never be lost (2 Chronicles 34; Jeremiah 5:31).
What did the people ask for in 1 Samuel 8:5, even though Samuel warned them against it?
They asked for a king “like all the nations.” They wanted to be like everyone else, even after God's prophet warned them what it would cost.
What role did Moses play toward Aaron and his sons in Leviticus 8:10–13?
Moses, as God's prophet, anointed Aaron and his sons as the first priests. Prophets and priests worked side by side, though their roles were different.
What happened to Eli's household because of their corrupt practices (1 Samuel 2:27–36)?
God sent a strong rebuke through His prophet. Even priests, given special privilege, were held accountable when they turned from God.
Why do you think God gave His prophets so many different jobs — teaching, correcting kings, writing things down — instead of just one?
A personal reflection question — a message worth keeping needs more than one way of being delivered and preserved.
Women Who Spoke for God
Scripture shows God calling women as prophets too — Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah among them (Exodus 15:20; Judges 4:4; 2 Kings 22:14). When King Josiah's officials needed to know how God saw their situation, they went straight to Huldah the prophetess.
What did Miriam do after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20–21)?
She led the women in a song of victory, celebrating what God had done. She is identified there as a prophetess.
What role did Deborah hold in Israel, and how did God work through her (Judges 4:4–9)?
She served as a judge over Israel and received revelation from God. Her leadership helped guide Israel through a difficult military crisis.
Why did King Josiah's officials go to Huldah after reading the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:11–14)?
The king was deeply troubled by what he heard and needed to know how God saw the nation's situation. His top officials trusted Huldah's prophetic voice enough to bring the question straight to her.
What does it mean to you that God has always included women among His prophets, from the very earliest chapters of the Bible?
A personal reflection question, worth considering alongside the rest of this week's stories.
Telling True Prophets From False Ones
Not everyone who claimed to speak for God actually did. Jeremiah faced four hundred false prophets who told the king exactly what he wanted to hear (Jeremiah 14:1–15). God was clear: “I have not sent them” (Jeremiah 14:14).
What did God say about the false prophets in Jeremiah 14:14?
He said He never sent them, commanded them, or spoke to them. They were prophesying “out of their own heart,” not from God.
What did the four hundred prophets tell King Ahab in 1 Kings 22:6, and what did Micaiah's message say instead?
The four hundred told Ahab to go to war and promised victory. Micaiah alone told the truth — that the battle would end in disaster.
According to Ezekiel 13:2, where did the false prophets get their messages from?
They spoke “out of their own heart” — their own opinions and wishes, dressed up as messages from God.
Why do you think it's always easier to follow the popular voice instead of the true one, even today?
A personal reflection question worth being honest about.
Ellen White's Honest Struggle
After her first vision, Ellen Harmon received a second one showing her the hard road ahead. She admitted she would rather have died than carry that call. Like the Old Testament prophets before her, she was honestly afraid — and God used her anyway.
What did Ellen Harmon's second vision show her about the future?
It showed her the trials she would face and the opposition and suffering that would come with sharing what God had revealed to her.
How did Ellen Harmon honestly describe her own feelings about this call?
She wrote that she was only seventeen, in poor health, and prayed that the burden would be given to someone else. She even said death seemed preferable to the responsibility ahead.
What finally helped Ellen Harmon accept her calling?
Much prayer and the encouragement of fellow believers helped her move from resistance to acceptance, and she devoted the rest of her life to it.
What does it tell you that one of the most influential voices in Adventist history began by wanting nothing to do with her calling?
A personal reflection question — God's calling and our own confidence rarely arrive together.
For Discussion
This week we saw Elijah's discouragement, Micaiah's courage, and Ellen White's honest fear. Which of these feels closest to something you've experienced?
An open question — there's no wrong answer, only your own honest reflection.
How can you tell the difference between a message that's really from God and one that just sounds appealing?
A question worth returning to often, not just answering once.
God used men and women, the confident and the afraid, to speak for Him. What does that tell you about who God can use in your own life or church?
A personal question — worth considering who around you might be more ready than they feel.
What is one truth from this week's lesson you want to carry with you into next week's study?
A closing question to carry forward, as this quarter's study continues.
