Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Observations From Scripture of our Times and Seasons by Kenton Cheek

“The Lord said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary pen: Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.” So I called in Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah as reliable witnesses for me. Then I made love to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the Lord said to me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. For before the boy knows how to say ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.”

–Isaiah 8:1-4

     Isaiah called his wife, “the prophetess.”  The title of prophet is not something that applies to a spouse by way of courtesy like Mr. and Mrs. Prophet.  A prophet is someone who speaks the Word of the Lord at just the right time and with authority.  Isaiah’s wife functioned as a prophetess.  I am amazed at how God challenges the social prejudices of whatever society His people find themselves in.

     In the strongly chauvinistic ancient middle east, Yahweh called and anointed Deborah to be the prophetess, judge and victorious military leader over all Israel.  He used the brave Queen Esther to rescue His people when they were about to be exterminated in captivity.  It was foretold through the prophet Joel that the sons and daughters of God would prophesy and this was fulfilled in Acts 2 and is still being fulfilled today.  The prophetess Anna greeted the baby Jesus in the Temple and later it was Priscilla who discipled Apollos and taught him the deeper truths of the faith.  Yes, she ministered alongside her husband, but she is listed first which indicates a greater prominence.

     When we discover who we are in Jesus, how to function as a community and look to our destiny with our Heavenly Father, we must keep in mind the truth of Galatians 3:28 which proclaims, “here is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  We are called to be a nation of prophets AND prophetesses, priests AND priestesses, kings AND queens all functioning in and under the authority of our ultimate Prophet, Priest and King, Jesus Christ the Lord. 

This is the written account of Adam’s family line.

When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind when they were created. 

–Genesis 5:1-2

In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.

–Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2:17

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

–Romans 8:14-17