Review of Previous Posts
The posts in this Jonah Series of the Prophets Section explore meanings for the story of Jonah. The previous post, Number 11 of 14, presented a discussion of the story of Jonah as it applies to the concept of repentance.
Preview of this Post
This is post 12 of 14 and explores the problem that Jonah may have had in determining if the “call” was truly from God.
True Voices and False Voices
How would one decide if the “voice” was authentic? David Berkowitz (“Son of Sam”) heard a “voice” instructing him to murder. Obviously, this “voice” was not authentic, but Berkowitz sincerely believed it was authentic. So, how do we know what is authentic and what is not? Could the process of determining whether or not the “voice” is authentic be similar to the process of separating a false prophet from a true prophet?
True Prophets versus False Prophets
As discussed in the series “True Prophets and False Prophets,” there are several generally-accepted tests for differentiating between a true prophet and a false prophet.
Is the “prophet” self appointed or appointed by God?
How is the prophecy communicated to the prophet?
Can the prophecy be reasonably tested?
Outcome based test
Response of the audience
Deuteronomy test
(Deuteronomy 18:22: “if a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord and the oracle does not come true, that oracle was not spoken by the Lord; the prophet has uttered it presumptuously: do not stand in dread of him.”)
Character of the prophet
Optimistic versus Pessimistic view
Good versus evil
The full discussion of these tests will not be presented here and the reader is referred to the referenced series.
Only some of these tests will apply when one is supposedly hearing a call to action that is supposedly the direct word of God. However, some will apply: Can the “word” be reasonably tested? What is the outcome of the word? Is the word optimistic or pessimistic? Is the word intended to create good or evil results?
In Jonah’s case, the word could not be reasonably tested. However, based on what the “voice” was telling him and what he suspected, it would appear that the outcome would be evil for the people of Israel, and thus would be pessimistic indeed. Thus, based on these generally-accepted tests, Jonah was well within the right to refuse the “call” as being false.
However, the essay also provides more practical tests for differentiating between a true prophet and a false prophet.
Indicia of a true prophet
Prophets whom we now consider to be true prophets were concerned with certain values that are considered as being core values to the Jewish religion. These core values concern:
- continued monotheism;
- prevention of assimilation;
- prevention of idolatry;
- encouraging social justice;
- the value of and goals of repentance;
- identification of and continuation of the values that form the basis of and the continuation of the God/man partnership and how it guided men to their present state (theocentered history); and
- the value of the land of Israel.
Based on these tests, if the story of Jonah is read as a parable for the Nation of Israel, Jonah could easily conclude that the “voice” was true. Even if the eventual outcome of Babylon overrunning Jerusalem is kept in mind, the ultimate outcome of a better Israel after the people return to Jerusalem, places value on the land of Israel.
Preview of the next post
The next post, post number 13 of 14, discusses the implications of the story of Jonah on the prayer Un’taneh Tokef