Whither the prophets?

SINCE 2016 started we have seen serious uncertainty in the institutions of higher learning around the country. Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, together with university managements, faced a problem too complex to easily solve within a short space of time.

Things have now escalated at a very critical time of the year, towards the final exams.

Being faced with a problem that is too big to solve is a sign that we need timely truth from God. Being concerned, my thoughts were provoked by the way God dealt with another situation where a country needed to make a transition. He raised up a prophet.

As the book of Hosea 12:13 says “then by a prophet [Moses], the Lord brought Jacob’s descendants out of Egypt and by that prophet they were protected.”

Now, we have a situation where the people who are supposed to be giving direction to the country are not showing up.

Where are the prophets who are oozing with passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Jeremiah stood against nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down wickedness, to destroy and overthrow and then to plant and build. That was a strong transition period.

We need the word of God in places of authority because God is magnificent and the greatest problem-solver we all know – except we may pretend not to know.

It amazes me that nobody stood up ahead of this time to speak on behalf of the office of heaven so that when this time arrived we would at least know the plan of God.

The systems of the world cannot drive themselves. As the church we are not supposed to stand out like a sore thumb. We are supposed to give direction in relevant platforms.

We need ears that are sanctified to hear from heaven and provide that direction in education, specifically in the Eastern Cape.

More than seeing titles given to ministers of the gospel, we need to experience the functioning of the hand of God.

There is nothing spectacular about being a prophet – it simply means being down to earth enough to serve the interest of the heart of God by leaning on His wisdom and understanding, and by proclaiming it.

As we transition to a new paradigm in the sector of education, it is important to heed the Bible. It informs us that real transformation is led by God before it is handed into human hands. When are we going to honour the name of the Almighty for real?

Amos 3:7 states that “indeed the sovereign Lord never does anything without revealing His plans to His servants the prophets”.

As South Africans we need to know what role we are supposed to play to make sure that the education of our nation has a stable foundation for the future, a ground upon which we can build, process and produce the leaders that tomorrow requires.

During the time of Elijah God said there were 7 000 prophets who had not bowed to Baal and he was ready to deploy them to take up the primary responsibilities that the dispensation required. Today we see only a few modern-day Elijahs in small corners of the country. Where are the 7 000? This is a clarion call, not specifically for a ministry to show off, but for the word of God that Jesus died for to receive the reverence and take the place it deserves.

If Yahweh be God he must have His spokesmen for this transition and generation.

That only a few generals of our time in other spheres are doing their best to take a stand by the grace of God is a reproach.

This is not criticism but wisdom. Jesus was the greatest general of all time. He never was a coward at any time. He is supposed to take pre-eminence in our societies and nation. We are supposed to go to work on purpose for God and of God. — Zweli Qokweni, Eastern Cape

NO single person can fix the problems of a country. But it takes every citizen to make input into the building of a nation.

South Africa belongs to all of us and we have our own unique challenges that require unique solutions to be found by South Africans.

It has been a long walk to where we are today. We have learnt lessons. We have made progress and achieved great things. Yet we still experience problems and face many challenges, some of our own making. Surely, the present challenges require fresh thinking.

We need to pause as a nation and embark on a strategic dialogue through a National Convention for the Future of South Africa.

In such a convention, as happened at the first and second Codesa, we will review everything we have done (in this case since democracy) in order to learn from our mistakes and build on our strengths/victories.

Emulate the best practices in the cause of building a true democratic, united, non-sexist, peaceful and prosperous nation.

Codesa I and II taught us that South Africans are capable of finding solutions to the complex problems facing them through open, honest dialogue.

The ANC has had the privilege of leading the country because of the mandate it obtained through the ballot box. But it cannot be right to think that, because of such a mandate, the ANC will have solutions to every challenge facing the nation. Such an expectation is misplaced. It is the men and women from all walks of life who make or break SA.

Times have changed. The present generation has an obligation to shape the future as it sees fit. We owe it to the next generation to exercise the power of dialogue and discuss shaping our future. The time is now, before the present scenario degenerates into a crisis of unimaginable proportions and it is too late and someone else imposes the terms.

“Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach ... let us rise up and build.” — Kenneth Macibela, via e-mail