“We can all no doubt remember having found ourselves suddenly under the influence of an idea, the source of which we cannot possibly identify. "It came to us afterward," as we say; that is, we are aware of it only after it has shot up full-grown in our minds, leaving us quite ignorant of how and when and by what agency it was planted there and left to germinate. It seems highly probable that the prophet's message often takes some such course with the Remnant...For some time it is inert; then it begins to fret and fester until presently it invades the man's conscious mind and, as one might say, corrupts it.” – Isaiah’s Job
Prophets, in biblical times, were inspired teachers who gave wise counsel to kings regarding God’s will and direction. They interpreted dreams and foretold calamities. Today, prophesying has taken a secular turn. Seers forecast the future, give predictions, and read tea leaves. Warren Buffett has been crowned the Oracle from Omaha for his financial prowess. Psychic Jeane Dixon predicted that Armageddon would take place in our present year, 2020. And the false prophets of global warming claim over and over, to know the date of our planet's demise. To meet the challenges ahead, a new kind of prophet is needed. That is, prophets for freedom.
Today’s story comes from the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 6:8, when God asks who he should send as a messenger to his people, Isaiah answered, “Here I am. Send me.” So, God chose Isaiah to warn the people of the wrath to come, to convince them to turn from their sins and seek a better way. Yet, God cautioned him that their time for change was running out, and they would not be prepared to listen. Since Isaiah did not understand, the Lord explained to him about the remnant, a small minority of people that existed and needed to hear his message. For the remnants are the ones who when after the fall, will be faithful enough to build it back up. And so it was, Isaiah would be their prophet.
To get to the remnant, one must bypass the masses, that is, the majority. Though considerable in size, the masses are quite ordinary and unexceptional. In today’s lingo, they may be known as the Sheeple, those who act collectively, however, passively. Easily controlled, they are most often seen being docilely led by a small group of elites. For this reason, these malleable followers are not the target of our prophet. They are not only incapable of grasping the principles needed to rebuild society, but they also do not have the depth of character to endure it. To appeal to the masses would require a drastic change in the message and would discourage the very people the prophet hopes to reach. But not to worry, the masses have their own leaders. There is a great attraction in selling to this large group with plenty of money-making opportunities.
On the other hand, the remnant is an unorganized and scattered group of free-thinkers and skeptics who are not a particular part of the class structure. They are not exclusively the wealthy, the middle class, or the poor. They are, however, the genuine intellectuals who will comprehend the message and principles behind them and hold on to them as long as necessary. They are special, set aside for holy purposes as they are the ones who will redeem humanity after the collapse. Prophets do not need to seek them out, the remnant will find them on their own. The exact size of the group is not known. During biblical times, the remnant was believed to reflect only 0.7 percent of the population.
Prophets to the remnant are like preachers to the flock, who are charged with providing assurance and motivation to their followers. By laying the groundwork, prophets plant the seeds that will eventually blossom at the appointed time. As such, the role of the prophet is simply to speak the truth. There is no need for mass persuasion, mass appeal, or mass sales.
In Albert Jay Nock’s 1937 book, “Free Speech and Plain Language”, Nock sets aside Chapter 13 to discuss Isaiah’s Job. Nock, a libertarian author and theorist, used the story of Isaiah and his remnant to remind us that only a small group has the comprehension and values to advance the ideas of liberty. For that reason, this special faction needed to be constantly nurtured for one day they would have significant influence in the world.
As Robert K. Greenleaf noted in his book, “The Servant as Leader”, the prophet grows in stature as people respond to his message…It is, therefore, the seekers, who make the prophet.
Jobs are plentiful, all willing prophets need apply.
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