One of the most heartbreaking stories in the Bible is about two preachers. The story begins with an unnamed prophet (Prophet A) who received instructions from God, to do something with very specific limitations on how it was to be done, and what to do afterwards. Prophet A accomplished all that God told him to do and refused to disobey God when a King (unwittingly) urged him to do something against God’s instructions.

What God instructed Prophet A to do was miraculous and obviously done through the power of God. It astonished all those who witnessed it, including the sons of another unnamed Prophet (Prophet B.) When Prophet B heard from his sons what Prophet A had done, Prophet B told Prophet A that an angel from God contradicted the instructions that Prophet A received directly from God. Sadly, Prophet A followed the counsel of Prophet B with disastrous consequences.

Prophet B had lied about the message from the Angel, but nobody knew it except for Prophet B and God.  God did not intervene until after Prophet A disobeyed by following what Prophet B told him. God told Prophet B to tell Prophet A that he had disobeyed and would face punishment. Prophet A was killed by a lion and Prophet B went unpunished. Note that Prophet B *did* hear from God, and deliver a message from God. He too was a true prophet.

This Bible story is one of many that serve to illustrate the understanding that not all of the folks in the Bible who were thought to speak on behalf of God actually did so all of the time. Just because they did at times didn’t mean they always did. Psychologist Edward Thorndike called it the “Halo Effect bias,” when people have a favorable view of someone based on *some* of the things they did, and believe them to be trustworthy thereafter. Biblically, the only way to know for sure if what they say can be trusted is if they agree with what God directly expressed. When what anyone says contradicts God, then what they say cannot be trusted —  no matter who it is

Today, it is even more difficult to know what and whom to believe. This is especially true since there are so many religions, denominations, and divergent voices representing religions. It is exacerbated when resources are contradictory or otherwise unreliable. The only way to know what is best to believe is to examine all of the evidence and form your own opinion; giving more weight to those things coming directly from God or purported to have come directly from God.

Hierarchy of trusted sources
1. Hear directly from God.
2. Read about quotes of God.
3. Hear directly from those whom God gave authority.
4. Read quotes of those whom God gave authority.
All subject to measurement against the previous

Short of hearing directly from God (1.), the best resources we have available is the Bible (2. & 3.), but if you haven’t read and studied the whole thing then your ability to discern the truth is limited and could result in disaster.

end part 8