Does God Speak in Unidentified Promptings? by Elizabeth Prata

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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We should note that we are not terribly interested in defending Chuck Swindoll. We shall, however, examine Ms. Prata's assertions.

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This post first appeared on The End Time in September 2016

A quick lesson on discerning a meme. I saw this on Facebook. Here is a lesson on how to parse the silly sayings we see on social media. Let's take it apart phrase by phrase and really think about what it is trying to communicate.

“Unidentified promptings” contradicts his word on the face of it, because He always identified Himself as the One speaking. (Is this actually true? Ac. 9:7: 

The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.

They heard a sound, but Jesus did not identify Himself to them. And what about Samuel? God did not identify himself the times He awoke him. Finally Eli had to tell Samuel Who was talking to him. 1Sa. 3:18: 

So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes.” 

Jesus Himself wanted to hide His identity. Mt. 8:4: 

Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Mt. 16:20: 

Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

Mk. 7:36: 

Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone.

Even God's purpose was kept a mystery. Ro. 16:25-26:

Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him...

Clearly God does not always identify Himself.)

Even when God spoke to pagans they knew this was an authoritative and undeniable voice of a God they must obey. (False.)

Would God speak behind a veil of uncertainty as to the source? No, never. (Yes, sometimes.)

Further, the Lord never spoke unclearly to an audience. (The author has moved the goalposts. Now it's "unclearly," rather than "unidentified.")

He was always open and authoritative when He spoke. (Matthew 7:29). Did the Lord say “I shall give Pharaoh unidentified promptings to let My people go”? (Exodus 4:22). Does Exodus 7:17 say, “Thus prompts the LORD in unidentified manner, In this thou shalt strongly suspect through an inner voice that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. Probably. If you discern the prompting correctly.” (This is puerile.)

In addition, if the promptings are unidentified, how do you know they are from God? (Because we are instructed to weigh them and discern them. 1Co. 12:10:

...to another distinguishing between spirits...

 The author appears to not understand the plain statements of Scripture.)

We know the devil speaks. (John 8:44). We know our own heart speaks too, for out of it come evil thoughts–murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander; says Matthew 15:19. (She's certain the devil and the heart speaks, but she has no idea if God speaks.)

Why would you want to risk acting upon something that could either be from the devil or your own dark heart? (Why? Really? Because if it's God, you'd better hear it.)

(Now some exercises that involve discernment.) Third, do you ever act on unidentified promptings in other cases in real life? If an unidentified voice whispered over the intercom at work to go do something, would you? (We would weigh it. Then we would obey. Particularly if the voice tells us the building is on fire. If it turns out the building is not on fire, well, only a little time was lost.)

If an unidentified voice left on your phone messages urged you to an action, would you do it? No. You’d probably say ‘This is creepy’ and delete the message or ignore the intercom. (Quite right. Discernment.)

Why risk following an unidentified prompting that more than likely is coming from the devil or your own foolish heart? ("More than likely?" This admits that some promptings are from God!)

Next, ‘promptings’ cannot be confirmed by the word. (Why not? Are we not to weigh prophecy? Are we not to guard our hearts?)

A prompting is a nebulous, gossamer thought like the last remnant of a dream you’re trying to hold on to before full consciousness erases it. (We do not accept this definition.)

How can the word of God confirm something so tenuous? (Discernment.)

In the Bible, is there a Book of Unidentified Promptings to which we turn blank pages and write our own indefinite and unclear words in invisible ink? (Puerile again. We know things aren't valid unless tested and discerned, and with counsel. 2Co. 13:1:

Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.)

Last, ‘promptings’ are not a communication. (Yes they are. If Ms. Prata's husband touched her breast and whispered something in her ear, she would know exactly what is being communicated.)

They are an unidentified feeling, more than likely generated by ourselves from ourselves to ourselves. (There's that qualifier again, "More than likely.")

Leave the unidentified promptings alone. Better to just read God’s word, make decisions according to His commands and precepts, and take responsibility for them.