Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. ( Isaiah 7:14 ) 

The prophecy of the virgin birth of Immanuel was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. 

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). ( Matthew 1: 22-23 ) 

This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my good promise to bring you back to this place. ( Jeremiah 29:10 ) 

God’s promise of restoration to the Israelites after their exile in Babylon, was fulfilled in history and spiritually through Jesus Christ. 

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: 2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. 4 And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’” ( Ezra 1: 1-4 ) 

The Role of Prophets: 

• Messengers of God: 

Prophets in the Old Testament served as intermediaries between God and His people, delivering divine messages, warnings, and promises. They were called and empowered by God to proclaim His word with authority, often confronting sin, calling for repentance, and announcing God’s judgment or salvation. 

“Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” ( Amos 3:7 ) 

This verse underscores the role of prophets as recipients and conveyors of God’s divine plans. God’s call to Jeremiah as a prophet, appointing him to speak God’s words to the nations. 

4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” 6 “Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” 7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. 9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” ( Jeremiah 1: 4-10 ) 

• Moses: 

Moses holds a unique position among the prophets of the Old Testament, serving not only as a conduit for divine communication but also as a leader, lawgiver, and mediator between God and the people of Israel. His life and ministry were instrumental in the establishment of the Israelite nation and the transmission of the oracles of God. Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush, where God commissions him to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. ( Exodus 3: 1-10 ) 

The giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai represents the foundational laws of the oracles of God. ( Exodus 20 )
The testimony to Moses’ unique relationship with God, is characterized by direct communication and unparalleled intimacy. 

10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 who did all those signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. ( Deuteronomy 34: 10-12 ) 

Moses’ role as a prophet encompassed not only the transmission of divine messages and laws but also the intercession on behalf of the people and the revelation of God’s character and will. Through his leadership, obedience, and faithful stewardship of God’s commands, Moses played a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for the covenant relationship between God and His chosen people, Israel. 

• Isaiah: 

Isaiah is often regarded as one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament, known for his vivid imagery, powerful messages of judgment and restoration, and profound Messianic prophecies. ( Isaiah 6: 1-8 ) 

Isaiah’s call and commissioning as a prophet, experiencing a vision of God’s glory in the temple. 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
 And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
 He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. ( Isaiah 9: 6-7 )

The prophecy of a coming child who would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,” foreshadows the birth of Jesus Christ. 

• Jeremiah: 

Jeremiah is often referred to as the “weeping prophet” due to his emotional pleas and lamentations over the sins of Judah and Jerusalem. His prophecies warned of impending judgment and exile but also offered hope for future restoration. 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” ( Jeremiah 1:5 ) 

God’s intimate knowledge of Jeremiah even before his birth, appointing him as a prophet to the nations. 

“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them” declares the LORD. 33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” ( Jeremiah 31: 31-34 ) 

The prophecy of a new covenant, contrasting the old covenant written on stone with a new covenant written on the hearts of God’s people, was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. ( Hebrews 8: 6-13 ) 

• Elijah: 

Elijah is one of the most prominent prophets in the Old Testament, known for his boldness, faithfulness, and miraculous encounters with God. His ministry took place during a time of widespread idolatry and apostasy in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, where he stood as a staunch defender of Yahweh, the one true God. Elijah’s confrontation with King Ahab and his proclamation of a drought is a judgment against Israel’s idolatry. 

Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” 2 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” 5 So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 

Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath
Sometime later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. ( 1 Kings 17: 1-7 ) 

The showdown on Mount Carmel between Elijah and the prophets of Baal culminated in God’s dramatic display of power and Elijah’s vindication as a true prophet. ( 1 Kings 18: 20-40 ) 

Elijah’s encounter with God on Mount Horeb, where he experiences God’s presence in a gentle whisper and receives reassurance and further instructions for his ministry. ( 1 Kings 19: 1-18 )

Elijah’s prophetic ministry was characterized by fiery zeal for God’s glory, unwavering faith in His promises, and fearless confrontation of evil. Through his miraculous deeds, fervent prayers, and uncompromising stand for righteousness, Elijah catalyzed revival and restoration in Israel, calling the people back to wholehearted devotion to God. The prophet Elijah’s life and ministry exemplify courage, faithfulness, and unwavering commitment to God in the face of adversity. His confrontations with idolatry and his miraculous encounters with God serve as enduring testimonies to the power of faith and obedience. Elijah’s legacy continues to inspire believers to stand boldly for truth, to trust in God’s provision and protection, and to pursue righteousness in all circumstances.

• Ezekiel: 

Ezekiel, a contemporary of Jeremiah, ministered to the exiles in Babylon and prophesied during a time of national crisis. His prophecies utilized vivid imagery and symbolic acts to convey God’s messages of judgment and restoration. 

1 In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin— 3 the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the LORD was on him. ( Ezekiel 1: 1-3 ) 

Ezekiel’s call and vision of God’s glory by the river Chebar initiated his prophetic ministry. ( Ezekiel 37: 1-14 )
The vision of the valley of dry bones symbolizes Israel’s restoration from spiritual death to new life through the power of God’s Spirit.

• Daniel: 

Daniel, a young Israelite taken into captivity in Babylon, rose to prominence as a prophet and statesman in the foreign court. His prophetic ministry spanned the entirety of the Babylonian and Persian empires, and his visions and interpretations provided insights into future events and divine plans. Daniel’s exceptional wisdom and understanding, granted by God, set him apart in the court of Babylon. 

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. ( Daniel 1:17 ) 

Daniel’s prayer and subsequent revelation from God enabled him to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and reveal the unfolding of future kingdoms and events. 

During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. 21 He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. 23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.” ( Daniel 2: 19-23 ) 

Daniel’s prayer of confession and intercession on behalf of the Israelites, seeking God’s mercy and restoration by the prophecies of Jeremiah. ( Daniel 9: 1-19) 

Daniel’s prophetic ministry encompassed various visions, dreams, and interpretations that provided profound insights into God’s sovereign rule over the nations and His ultimate plan for redemption and restoration. Through his faithful obedience and unwavering commitment to prayer and righteousness, Daniel exemplified the role of a prophet as a conduit for divine communication and a faithful servant of God amidst challenging circumstances. The prophet Daniel’s life and ministry serve as a compelling example of one who faithfully served as a conduit for divine communication in the Old Testament. Through his visions, interpretations, and unwavering commitment to righteousness, Daniel provided profound insights into God’s plans and purposes, ultimately pointing to the fulfillment of God’s promises in Jesus Christ. His example continues to inspire believers today to stand firm in faithfulness and trust in God’s sovereign rule over all of history.