“God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the worlds” – Hebrews 1:1-2(KJV)
Understanding dispensations is the key to understanding God’s dealings with man. Each dispensation ushers in new ways and new dealings of God with his people. The dispensation of innocence shows God relating with man without a sense of sin consciousness. Man followed God’s instructions with quick and willing obedience. The fall of man ended that dispensation and introduced the dispensation of conscience. Sin resulting from the fall began to rule and dominate man. The consciousness of sin grew and man became weakened by guilt and condemnation.
To curtail human excesses and show God’s standard, the law was given and man was brought under the control of the law. Kings, Priest, and Prophets became God’s channels of communication with man. While the Kings pass decrees and exercise rulership authority, the Priests represented the people before God by seeing to the sacrifices and the worship at the temples. The Priests served as the people’s representatives and mouth piece before God.
The Prophets on the other hand, were God’s messengers carrying God’s message to the people. They were God’s mouthpiece. God, in that dispensation, spoke to man by the prophets. People like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah, Elisha, Joel, Ezekiel and a host of them were as relevant as God’s voice to the nation of Israel and the other gentile world. God spoke to leaders, individuals, nations through the prophets. These prophets were seers and God’s mouthpiece. They bring God’s judgments, blessings, directions and instructions to the people. They heard from God and instructed the people. They heard from God and delivered God’s message to the people. The people consulted them to seek God’s mind and will in any matter. They were consulted for major decisions like going for wars and seeking solution for famine and pestilence.
The coming of Jesus, however, brought in a paradigm shift. Jesus changed the game; he became the main actor in the scene of life. He was God with man dealing directly with man to provide guidance, direction, protection and comfort to the people.On ascension to heaven, he gave his word and the Holy Spirit to the church to guide the church. This represents the written and the living word. Believers in these last days are no more to be guided by specialized seers but they are to be led by the Word and the Holy Spirit. This highlights the priesthood of every believer, no other mediator.
PRAYER: Father, thank you for your word and the indwelling Holy Spirit that guides me.
Rev. Vincent Diolu