Prophecy: An advance given by God – A Line of Credit for the Poor

Prophecy in the Bible can be meaningfully compared to receiving an advance, like a credit. Just as a financial advance grants access to resources ahead of the actual availability of funds, biblical prophecy functions as a divinely inspired message from God, providing insight, guidance, or promise before the full unfolding of events.

How does a loan function? Say I want to build a house but I don’t have the money at present. It may take years for me to work and actually save enough money to build a house, or say I want to start a business, but don’t have the money. In both these cases I would go to someone or the bank and ask them to lend me some money to build a house or a business. Overall, loans provide access to funds in advance to meet immediate needs like buying a home, education, or working capital, while creating an obligation to repay with interest over time.

Similarly, prophecy is fundamentally God & message delivered through chosen individuals, often foretelling future events or revealing divine will with the purpose of preparing, encouraging, or warning people ahead of time. Prophecy is not just about predicting the future but also about receiving an advance of God & plans, intentions, and promises that believers can hold on to as a

surety of what is to come.

Israel was given many prophecies in the Old Testament of the coming Messiah and how things would get better. During dark situations the Lord gave credit to ease the burdens and hardships of His people. The way He did that was through Prophecy.

Prophets act as intermediaries who receive this credit of divine revelation, empowering communities with knowledge beforehand—whether it is about God & judgment, redemption, or the coming of a Messiah. These prophetic messages serve as an early glimpse a spiritual advance that supports believers in navigating present difficulties with hope and confidence in future fulfilment.

Thus, prophecy as an advance credit speaks to the dynamic relationship between God & timing and human experience, offering believers a foretaste of divine promises that stimulate faith, awareness, and preparation for what lies ahead according to God & sovereign plan.