Does God Forsake an Old Prophet? by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Apr 26, 1906

Does God Forsake an Old Prophet?

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

S. N. HASKELL

ANY humane government pensions its old soldiers. A responsibility is felt to look after every dependent family whose husband and father has served the government faithfully until old age has come upon him. Provision was made in the law of Moses for those who had officially served the Lord fifty years. God never leaves his people because they are old, if they have continued faithfully in his service. “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” These were the words of David in his old age. The prophet Isaiah uttered the following: “Thus saith the Lord that made thee, that formed thee from the womb, which will help thee: Fear not, O Jacob, my servant.” Again, “Harken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: and even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.” Such is the character of the God of the Bible. It is the God that I am serving and have served for over half a century. I love him, for he first loved me. It is a common thing for man to be deceived, but we can not deceive God. When God calls a man or a woman to stand in the forefront of the battle for over two thirds of their lifetime, then in their old age do you think that God will leave them to the buffetings of Satan?

There are two principles in the work of God that should never be forgotten. God never had two leading prophets at the same time. There were often many prophets in Israel. At one time there were over seventy. There are eighteen mentioned in the New Testament. He never has been in such straits as to confine himself to one when he chose to speak through more then one; and yet he never has set an aged prophet aside when faithfulness has marked his life. David was an old man, and he committed very grievous sins, but God established his testimony even upon his death-bed. No one took his place until he closed his eyes in death. There were other prophets while he lived, even when driven from his throne because of his sin, but none of them took his place. God gave him an opportunity to repent, which he did, and the Lord restored him to his throne. The story of this is familiar to the readers of this paper.

Another principle should never be forgotten. To speak against any prophet whom God has given the most prominent place in his work has always been a grievous sin, even if he did do things which to the eyes of men seem strange. Miriam and Aaron, both prophets, tried it with disastrous results. Nothing but the prayers of Moses restored Miriam from her leprosy that came in consequence of it. Numbers 12. In the New Testament history, the apostle Paul occupied a place much like that occupied by Moses in the Old Testament. There were other prophets and apostles in the church at the same time. There were a number of prophets in Corinth; for they had all the gifts in the church at one time. On one occasion some of these prophets got out of place; so the apostle wrote them some very plain instruction upon this point. The gift of prophecy does not destroy the sense of propriety; but it seemed to do so with some of these prophets. They had forgotten, if they ever knew, that the spirits of prophets were subject to the prophets, and that they were all subject to the leading prophet, the one who had been the instrument in the hands of God of bringing the church into existence. After laying down these principles, which would bring order out of the confusion that existed, Paul then concludes the fourteenth chapter of First Corinthians with these words: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant [or deny this principle], let him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophecy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.”

It is God’s order, when he has a prophet in the position of responsibility, that he is responsible for him and will not forsake him. And if his Spirit should rest upon others, they, too, will respect and honor the leading prophet with that honor and respect that will give their testimonies due weight. These principles are as eternal as the throne of God. They will be established in the last days and confirmed. God does not inculcate the worship of any man, but when he chooses an instrument to work through, he does not forsake him even in his old age.

San Bernardino, Cal.