Maybe they gave you bad advice, or maybe they completely changed their tune on something important. How do you know who to trust, especially when it comes to matters of faith?

The book of Devarim, or Deuteronomy, grapples with this very question. Specifically, it addresses what to do when a prophet, someone claiming to speak for God, leads you astray. It's a tricky situation. Because how can you be sure if they're really speaking for God or just… making it up?

Sifrei Devarim 84, a commentary on Deuteronomy, delves into this issue, presenting a fascinating and somewhat unsettling scenario. Imagine a prophet, initially genuine, who then goes rogue. Someone who once seemed to be a clear channel to the divine starts spouting falsehoods. What do you do then?

Rabbi Akiva, a towering figure in Jewish tradition, offers a powerful insight. He says, "God forbid that He should cause them to stand still for the idolators." What he means is that God wouldn't allow a true prophet to actively lead people into idolatry. The verse in Deuteronomy, according to Rabbi Akiva, must be referring to someone who was a true prophet, but then went bad. Think of Chananiah ben Azur, mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah (chapter 28). He initially seemed legitimate, but his prophecies contradicted Jeremiah’s, and he was ultimately proven false.

The text goes on to say, "Do not pay heed to the words of that prophet." But here's a crucial nuance: this doesn't apply to someone who retracts their false prophecy. If a prophet acknowledges their error and turns away from falsehood, we can, perhaps, give them another chance.

And what about "that dreamer of dreams?" The text emphasizes that a prophet isn't retroactively suspect. Meaning, just because they later prove to be false doesn't mean their previous prophecies were automatically invalid. The test is in the moment, in the message itself.

So, what's the takeaway here? Deuteronomy (and Sifrei Devarim) is telling us that discernment is crucial. We can't blindly accept everything we hear, even from those who claim to speak for God. As it says, "For the LORD your God is testing you to see whether you really love etc." This isn't a passive test; it’s an active challenge to our faith, our intellect, and our commitment to truth. It challenges us to think for ourselves, to weigh the evidence, and to choose wisely. The test, ultimately, is about the strength of our own commitment to truth and to God. It is about our own ability to tell the difference between what is true and what is false, regardless of who is saying it.

It's a reminder that faith isn't about blind obedience, but about a constant, active engagement with the world and with the divine. It’s about using our God-given minds to discern truth from falsehood, even when it's difficult, even when it challenges our preconceived notions. Are we up to the test?