Throughout the history of God’s people, God sent people out to proclaim His messages. This mission was never easy, as they were sent to a people that Moses had described with these bitter words: “You have been rebellious against the LORD ever since I have known you” (Deuteronomy 9:24). This rebellion against God was evident in the way the people treated His messengers:
MOSES: With Moses, the one God used to proclaim God’s message of deliverance and lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, the people grumbled and lamented against him (Exodus 14:11-12; 16:2), and they rebelled and resisted him (Numbers 16:1-3; 21:5).
ELIJAH: The prophet Elijah was sent by God to evil kings in order to proclaim a message of warning against the people’s sin of idol worship. He had to drink from a brook and eat food brought to him by ravens throughout the years of the famine (1 Kings 17:6). The people remained silent and did not respond when Elijah challenged them for wavering between two opinions (1 Kings 18:21). Because he went up against the prophets of Baal and Asherah, Queen Jezebel threatened and pursued Elijah to kill him (1 Kings 19:2).
ISAIAH: The prophet Isaiah was sent to proclaim a message of punishment and repentance. He declared prophecies of the Messiah to the people, but despite all his efforts, the people didn’t listen, understand, or see; their hearts were hard (Isaiah 6:9-13). The people only responded with superficial forms of worship – their hearts were still far from God (Isaiah 29:13-14). The people didn’t like to listen to Isaiah’s warnings. They preferred to hear “pleasing things” instead of heeding his warnings (Isaiah 30:9-10).
JEREMIAH: The prophet Jeremiah had to suffer through many difficulties all throughout his ministry. He wept as he declared his message (Jeremiah 9:1), but the people did not listen, understand, or perceive; their hearts were hardened. They rejected him (Jeremiah 26:4-9); the priests and false prophets saw him as a traitor to the nation (Jeremiah 26:11); the king burned his books (Jeremiah 36:27); and he was eventually thrown into a deep cistern (Jeremiah 37:16; 38:6).
JOHN THE BAPTIST: John the Baptist had a unique mission and delivered his message in an unconventional manner. He preached in the wilderness, calling the people to repentance (Matthew 3:1-2). He wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt, and he ate locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4). John was put into prison because he advised King Herod to stop sinning. Then he was ultimately beheaded by the king (Matthew 14:3-11).
