Deuteronomy 13:1-3 - When a Sign Comes to Pass by A False Prophet
“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams...” — Deuteronomy 13:1–3, KJV Deuteronomy 13 teaches an essential principle of biblical discernment: supernatural manifestation alone does not prove that a person or message is from God. What makes this passage especially striking is that Moses says “the sign or the wonder come to pass.” The issue is not that the prediction necessarily failed. The sign could occur, yet the message accompanying it could still lead God's people away from Him. Therefore, Israel was not commanded to judge a prophet merely by asking, “Did the prophecy happen?” They also had to ask, “Does this message agree with what God has already revealed?” “Let us go after other gods” Thi...