“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods'—which you have not known—'and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 13:1-3
There is no shortage of false teachers who twist the Word of God to manipulate God’s people—often to squeeze money out of them. “Why,” we may wonder, “does God allow false teachers to do such things?” God gives an answer in Deuteronomy 13:3.
God allows false teachers to speak falsely to test His people to reveal the depth of our love for Him! God’s line of reasoning is that if we love Him we will likewise love His Word. And if we love His Word, we will be sure to know His Word. And when we know His Word, we will be able to discern when His Word is being subverted.
Jesus said His sheep know His voice and they follow Him. When people follow the voices of false teachers, it is because they do not know the voice of the Shepherd. If you profess faith in the Lord, do you know His Word enough to discern truth from error?
Even more terrifying is that those who do not hear and follow the of the Shepherd likely do not know the Shepherd!