Are We All Capable Of Becoming Prophets?

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                

                Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim with Caleb from the tribe of Judah, the two spies sent by Moses out of the 12 to reconnoiter the land of Canaan who brought back a favorable report about what they saw as they searched the land.   Joshua was on the 40 year Exodus with Moses (1391-1271 BCE)  and finished the Exodus with the remaining 601,730 people counted on the 2nd census of the 12 tribes being  he was younger than Moses.   In making this long and dangerous trek, they had a loss of 1,820 persons. 

Jewish Prophets are divided into:

 (1) the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings).   

The Book of Judges primarily focuses on leaders who "judge" Israel, not prophets, although some figures like Deborah are described as both a judge and a prophet. 

The books of 1 and 2 Kings feature several prophets, including Elijah, Elisha, Ahijah, Micaiah, and Nathan, who played significant roles in advising and challenging the kings of Israel and Judah. The books of Kings also mention other prophets, such as Shemaiah, Jehu, and unnamed prophets who delivered messages to the kings.

Samuel born in the 11th century BCE as well  to the tribe of Levi living on Mt. Ephraim, was the last Israelite judge.  His mother promised him before he was born to become a Nazirite to serve at the sanctuary in Shiloh.  There he received the Divine call of prophecy as a child.  He foresaw the House Of Eli being destroyed! He saw the destruction of the Israelite army at Aphek by the Philistines !  Traditional Jewish worship was not happening and he tried to restore it.  

On Samuel's initiative, groups of prophets were formed to guide the people.   It was he, from acute pressure of the people, conceded  to popular demand to select a king and be like other countries in that way, so he selected Saul, Israel's first king. Up to now, they only had judges scattered throughout the country.   

"(2) The Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve, or Minor, Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi)."

"Isaiah prophesied in Jerusalem from the time of the death of Uzziah until the middle of Hezekiah's reign (740-701 BCE)."

Malachi (460-450 BCE)  prophesied then.  His name means "my messenger."  Some rabbis feel this is not the person's real  name.  He was one who protested against the people's transgressions dealing with sacrifices and tithing.  The priest/leader must be of high morals and stop the people's sinning.  He was against mixed and broken marriages (problems we have today).  His vision of "the DAY OF THE LORD"   was proceeded by Elijah.  

"Many people today think of a prophet as any person who sees the future. While the gift of prophecy certainly includes the ability to see the future, a prophet is far more than just a person with that ability.

A prophet is basically a spokesman for G‑d, a person chosen by G‑d to speak to people on G‑d's behalf and convey a message or teaching. Prophets were role models of holiness, scholarship and closeness to G‑d. They set the standards for the entire community.

The Hebrew word for a prophet, navi (Nun-Beit-Yod-Alef, נביא) is said to be related to the term niv sefatayim (נִיב שְׂפָתָיִם, Isaiah 57:19) meaning "fruit of the lips," which emphasizes the prophet's role as a speaker."

I think this is very clear in reminding us that people who have the responsibility to speak for us are setting moral standards for all of us including our children who are so impressive at an early age.  Just watch the videos of cats and dogs playing with little babies and notice how the babies start to imitate what the animals are doing and loving every minute of it.  "Children begin to develop a sense of morality and differentiate between right and wrong as early as 2 years old, with more nuanced understanding emerging by 3-4 years." 

"A prophet is not necessarily a Jew. The Talmud reports that there were prophets among the gentiles (most notably Balaam, whose story is told in Numbers 22), although they were not as elevated as the prophets of Israel (as the story of Balaam demonstrates). And some of the prophets, such as Jonah, were sent on missions to speak to the gentiles."

Balaam was a Heathen prophet invited  Balak, king of Moab, to curse the Israelites when they approached his country during their wanderings in the wilderness (Exodus).  In other words, he wanted Balaam to lay a curse on the tribes.

Christians include Jesus as a prophet.  Some see him as the son of Jesus, which was the prevailing belief among the Greeks and Romans of the day being they already had several gods that also were humans as well.  Many Greek and Roman myths revolve around heroic figures, like Heracles (Hercules), Odysseus, Jason, and Theseus, who undertook great feats and often had divine lineage or assistance. In some cases, humans could achieve divine status, a process known as apotheosis, where they were elevated to the status of gods. Examples include Heracles (Hercules) and Asclepius.

 Bethlehem seemed to be a Hellenistic city at the time Jesus was born which it has really become one today, that is, Palestinian.    

It is a city in Judea/Samaria that is home to Palestinian Christians and Muslims. It's a center of pilgrimage and tourism, and is also known as the birthplace of Jesus.

 The Romans under Constantine the Great (306–337 AD), Christianity began to transition to the dominant religion of the Roman Empire.  He held a meeting to decide what Jesus was to them.  First Council of Nicaea, (325), the first ecumenical council of the Christian church, meeting in ancient Nicaea (now İznik, Turkey). It was called by the emperor Constantine I, an unbaptized catechumen, who presided over the opening session and took part in the discussions.  It's when they backed Jesus and outlawed Judaism.  Thus, the Roman Catholic Church was born.  However, According to "The Moody Handbook of Theology," the official beginning of the Roman Catholic church occurred in 590 C.E., with Pope Gregory I. This time marked the consolidation of lands controlled by the authority of the pope, and thus the church's power, into what would later be known as "the Papal States." Catholics also say it started with the apostles.  

Resource

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Neviim

https://www.jewfaq.org/prophets