The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenements halls and whispered in the sounds of silence.
- Paul Simon
There are many mysteries in Scripture. Some more interesting than others. Here's a couple of riddles. When it comes to raw spiritual demonstration, who was the most powerful Old Testament Prophet? Outside of Christ's Incarnation and costly Atonement, what was the greatest miracle recorded in the Bible?" Fun problems to solve. The resulting answers not only worth the effort, but extremely meaningful on a variety of levels.
According to Scripture who was the most powerful human being to ever walk the Earth? Clearly the answer is Christ but then He was and is a little more than just a human being. He alone possesses the quantum nature of being fully man and fully God, so for our purpose here let's place the Son of God/Son of Man on the pedestal He deserves and choose from the rest of mankind.
According to Jesus, in certain respects, the winner is His cousin John The Baptist:
- "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater [in privilege] than he." Matthew 11:11 AMP
The original outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost gave birth and empowerment to the 1st century church. This unprecedented move of God began with John The Baptist’s message of extreme repentance preparing the way for Christ.
Few appreciate what an amazingly significant role John’s accomplishment played in preparing "stubborn and hardheaded” believers for the appearance of their Redeemer. Without a single recorded miracle, John's coming in the spirit of Elijah, accomplished what Elijah’s three accounts of heavenly fire could not. Jews, perhaps including Pharisees, came to immerse themselves in the waters of the Jordan. The entire region thereby participating in an unprecedented act of repentance.
Baptism, as instituted by John, exemplified by Jesus and implemented by the apostles was Scripturally unique. While the concept may have arisen from the Jewish ceremonial washings of Mikveh, John's application was certainly next generation. John used baptism to demonstrate his message of extraordinary repentance by requiring Jews to undergo a rite reserved for Gentile converts. Baptism, for example, is listed by the Jewish philosopher Maimonides, along with circumcision and sacrifice, as one of the three requirements for Gentile proselytes to Judaism. By commanding Israel to repent and be baptized, John dramatized his message that God’s people had fallen from their privileged position as "sons of Abraham."
There is no modern equivalent in Christendom. Even the Pope commanding all Catholics to be re-baptized and re-confirmed, and/or a Billy Graham figure demanding all Born Again Christians get back to the altar and pray through until it took, would fail in comparison. Such proclamations would be as radical as they would be unwelcomed. Yet, not nearly so much as that of the Baptist’s. Jews inherited their faith and had never been baptized into it to begin with. Additionally, males proudly carried in their bodies the mark of sanctification through circumcision.
Of particular interest is the method John employs for his altar call. The first of only two recorded in the New Testament. Establishing himself as the Baptist, he calls Israel to repentance, yet note the tenor of his accusation and its unusual timing. While his audience obediently responds, John stops them short with a strange question:
Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Luke 3:7-9 New King James Version
John seems to rubs Israel's nose in their unworthiness to even repent. And this before they had met, much less rejected, their Messiah. The no doubt offended and perplexed church of his day, pressed by his menacing warnings, cried out in confusion:
So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages."... And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. Luke 3:10-18 New King James Version
Old Testaments Contenders
Biblically speaking, when talking outlandish miracles, there's an impressive list of candidates. Toping the chart would be Moses and Elijah. Both have an impressive collections of miracles to their credit, including calling fire from heaven, a feat Elijah did three times! Moses' wonders, including the plagues against Egypt and crossing the Red Sea on dry, ground would seem to qualify him as the leading contender.
On the other hand, if Elijah would be a close second, then another player takes the field. While not near as flashy or memorable as Moses or Elijah, we are told Elisha had twice the miracle working power as Elijah! A type of Christ in many respects, including in his meekness before men and kindness to his enemies, Elisha might seem to be our champion. If on a scale from one to ten Elijah placed eight or nine and Moses as a ten, Elisha having twice the power of Elijah, would rank as the greatest among greats.
But not so fast. There are two secret contenders, both with a single miracle to their credit that's literally off the charts! The first is Joshua. As the successor to Moses, Joshua led the Children of Israel across the Jordan River and into the promise land. Under his leadership there were many miracles and victories but one stands head and shoulders above the rest. After stunning military victories, including the taking of Jericho, several kings of promised land banded together hoping to defeat Israel resulting in a great battle:
- "So Joshua and his entire army, including his best warriors, left Gilgal and set out for Gibeon. “Do not be afraid of them,” the Lord said to Joshua, “for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you.” Joshua traveled all night from Gilgal and took the Amorite armies by surprise. The Lord threw them into a panic, and the Israelites slaughtered great numbers of them at Gibeon. Then the Israelites chased the enemy along the road to Beth-horon, killing them all along the way to Azekah and Makkedah. As the Amorites retreated down the road from Beth-horon, the Lord destroyed them with a terrible hailstorm from heaven that continued until they reached Azekah. The hail killed more of the enemy than the Israelites killed with the sword. On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day!" Joshua 10:7-14
Cosmology 101
We are in a much better position today to grasp the unbelievable significance of the idea of causing the sun and moon to stand still for a nano second, much less a day. Such an occurrence seems to suggest that either the Earth suddenly stopped rotating and then began again or the orbits of the sun and moon were abruptly altered for a significant period of time and then changed back again.
When examined scientifically, such a claim is outrageous enough to disqualify it as literal. Yet let's not be too hasty. Genuine faith and reason may not be at odds. Proof of the existence of and omnipotent Creator is literally everywhere and strong evidence for Biblical authenticity abounds from scientific to prophetic.
A final candidate for the honor of most powerful prophet of all time is Isaiah. While his list of impressive credentials include the greatest prophecies concerning the coming of Christ by an Old Testament author, it's his dabbling with cosmology that's the attention grabber. During what was originally to the be the end of the righteous rein of King Hezekiah, Isaiah was sent to explain his illness would end in death that he might get his affairs in order. At this news Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, crying out to God to spare his life. God, hearing his prayer, sent Isaiah returning with good news:
- Then this message came to Isaiah from the Lord: “Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. Yes, I will defend this city. “‘And this is the sign from the Lord to prove that he will do as he promised: I will cause the sun’s shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz!’” So the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps." Isaiah 38:4-8
Here again we have a cosmological miracle that defies description. If there's anything more impressive than causing the sun to stand still it's moving it backwards!
Interestingly, both Joshua and Isaiah have very similar names. Joshua is from the Hebrew name יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yehoshu'a) meaning "YAHWEH is salvation" of which Jesus is a derivative. Isaiah is from the Hebrew name יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Yesha'yahu) also meaning "YAHWEH is salvation.
Haunting Legacy
The ministry of Isaiah has left us with many treasures. One is a powerful encounter with God in Heaven:
- In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Master sitting on a throne—high, exalted!—and the train of his robes filled the Temple. Angel-seraphs hovered above him, each with six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two their feet, and with two they flew. And they called back and forth one to the other, Holy, Holy, Holy is God-of-the-Angel-Armies. His bright glory fills the whole earth. The foundations trembled at the sound of the angel voices, and then the whole house filled with smoke. I said, “Doom! It’s Doomsday! I’m as good as dead! Every word I’ve ever spoken is tainted—blasphemous even!And the people I live with talk the same way, using words that corrupt and desecrate. And here I’ve looked God in the face! The King! God-of-the-Angel-Armies!” Then one of the angel-seraphs flew to me. He held a live coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth with the coal and said, “Look. This coal has touched your lips. Gone your guilt, your sins wiped out.” And then I heard the voice of the Master: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” I spoke up, “I’ll go. Send me!” Isaiah 6:1-8 MSG
1. The most righteous men of his day felt, "Doom! It’s Doomsday! I’m as good as dead! when in the presence of the Lord. Pretty far removed from the presumption of unacceptable modern worship music!
2. Isaiah should consider the very lips he used to speak his incredible prophecies were "tainted—blasphemous even."
3. In the Lord's presence Isaiah would attribute the guilt of his society, of God's own people, as his own.
And all of this from arguably the most powerful prophet to walk the Earth? Or perhaps it was because of this very aspect of Isaiah's character he was given such honor. Here Isaiah resembled Moses. Even given his incredible insights and power with God, even having spoiled Egypt, the mightiest military, religious and political power of his day, we are told Moses was the meekest man on the face of the Earth.
We would do well to learn from these men. We would be wise to mediate on the meaning of Isaiah's cry in our seeking salvation, deep repentance and great revival.
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