“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets…” (Hebrews 1:1)
On rare occasions, the Lord God speaks directly and audibly to people. In addition, He has spoken “many times and in many ways” through prophets, especially to the people of Israel. For example, these prophets received dreams and visions in which the Lord God communicated a message to a king, a social group, the entire nation of Israel or surrounding peoples. Thus the prophets became spokesmen for God.
Moses had a special position. About him God says, “With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord.” (Numbers 12:7-8) This is how God made His laws and regulations known to the people of Israel as they were about to move into their new land. Later prophets passed on prophecies about the future and confronted the people with social and religious malpractices. Many of their messages were also written down and preserved in the Bible. Thus, we can still read those words of God even though we are not the original addressees.
Many prophetic words are tailored to a specific situation and audience. But all of them show something of God’s character and His will for us humans. In what ways can these texts also speak to you? Are you open to that?