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The Abiding Gift of Prophecy - Contents
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    Three Prophets on Duty

    Jeroboam II succeeded his father Joash as king, and Jonah, Amos, and Hosea followed Elisha in the prophetic office. Thus the Lord continued, through the prophetic gift, to provide divine counsel and guidance for Israel, and to give them success in repelling invaders of the land. Of Jeroboam II, we read:AGP 119.2

    “He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which He spake by the hand of His servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath-hepher. For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: … but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.” 2 Kings 14:25-27.

    The road to the reformation called for by Elijah and Elisha was still wide open. Those prophets were on duty. Jeroboam, the king, acted promptly upon the prediction of the prophet Jonah, that the coast of Israel which had been taken from the nation would be restored. What a wonderful opportunity Jeroboam had for leading the nation back to the Lord, who led the first Jeroboam to establish the kingdom!AGP 119.3

    But Jeroboam failed in plain sight and within short distance of the goal. This failure proved to be far more than a mere failure; it developed into utter disregard of God’s requirements. Jeroboam arrayed himself against the Sovereign of the universe. This was a most serious offense in the sight of God. Elisha had been the counselor of Jeroboam’s father and grandfather. He had undoubtedly instructed Jeroboam in the way of the Lord from his youth. But all this had little weight with the king and his advisers. They made it plain that they wanted not the Lord’sAGP 119.4

    way in the affairs of the kingdom. It was now two hundred years after the establishment of the kingdom of Israel. During the entire time the Lord had kept His prophets close to the rulers and in the midst of the people. Jeroboam II was the thirteenth king that had come to the throne, and every one had been counseled and warned by prophets of God. The ingratitude and defiance of Jeroboam and the nation reached the limit of God’s forbearance and protection. The prophet Hosea, who was then God’s messenger to Israel, was bidden to write:AGP 120.1

    “The word of the Lord that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of … Jeroboam the son of Joash…. The land that committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord…. For yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel…. I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.” Hosea 1:1-6.

    Hosea’s startling message of doom was supported by a like message from the prophet Amos “which he saw concerning Israel … in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel.” Amos 1:1. The warning of Amos was very serious:AGP 120.2

    “The high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.” Amos 7:9.

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