Our world is filled with predictions about the future. Each prediction provides evidence to support its eventuality. Time will tell if what is being spoken is a word from the Lord or if it’s a prediction clothed in assumption.

A prophet named Hananiah spoke regarding the length of time Judah would be enslaved in Babylon. He said, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will remove the yoke of the king of Babylon from your necks. Within two years I will bring back all the Temple treasures that King Nebuchadnezzar carried off to Babylon” (Jeremiah 28: 2-3). He continued speaking and finished his prophecy by saying, “I will surely break the yoke that the king of Babylon has put on your necks. I, the Lord, have spoken!’” (vs. 4).  Hananiah sounded confident and authoritative.

Earlier the Lord told Jeremiah to make a yoke and wear it as a prophetic announcement. It was a visible symbol referring to the time Judah would spend in Babylon. The yoke was a challenge to those prophesying from human assumptions. The Lord instructed Jeremiah, “So, you must submit to Babylon’s king and serve him; put your neck under Babylon’s yoke! (27:8). The Lord would use the yoke of slavery to discipline the nation for their disobedience.

Jeremiah listened to Hananiah and then he spoke, “The ancient prophets who preceded you and me spoke against many nations, always warning of war, disaster, and disease. So a prophet who predicts peace must show he is right. Only when his predictions come true can we know that he is really from the Lord” (vs. 8-9). 

In a foolish and assumptive act, Hananiah took the yoke from Jeremiah’s neck and broke it into pieces. Hananiah again prophesied, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Just as this yoke has been broken, within two years I will break the yoke of oppression from all the nations now subject to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon’” (vs. 11). 

After Hananiah shared, Jeremiah spoke a strong word to Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, but the people believe your lies” (vs. 15). In the deception that followed, Hananiah’s prophetic assumption would cost him his life.

There are consequences when we speak or repeat assumptions making them sound like a word from the Lord. Time will tell if something is true or not. Waiting for that time of clarification can be a challenge especially when the Lord’s plan runs contrary to the assurances offered by an assumption.

We need to wait until the evidence of a prophetic comes to determine if what was spoken is a word from the Lord. It is especially hard when what is being spoken is something we want to believe.