Sabbath School Lesson for October 3-9, 2026
Introduction of Lesson 2, The Call of a Prophet
Memory Text: “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’ ” Isaiah 6:8 NKJV
Scriptures reveal time and again the difficult life of a prophet. They often endured rejection, misunderstanding, and persecution. They were subject to being ignored, ridiculed, and even beaten and thrown in jail. Many were martyred for accepting the call to go where God sent them to be His spokesperson.
This, however, didn’t stop God from sending the message of hope to our fallen world on many occasions. Isaiah, and other prophets, were willing and eager to take up the challenge.
In these last days, we are also called to listen to these same prophets and share their messages of hope. Will you heed the call and go where God sends you?
This week, we’ll explore:
- Sunday: Abraham, Defender of the Covenant
- Monday: The Elijah Message
- Tuesday: Isaiah, the Gospel Prophet
- Wednesday: Daniel, the Faith Seer
- Thursday: John the Baptist, Preparing a People
- Friday: Called to Prophetic Ministry
Sunday: Abraham, Defender of the Covenant
After Noah and the Flood, sin had once again taken firm root in most of the people of Abraham’s day. In order to stem the mounting dangers of apostasy and idolatry, God chose His faithful follower Abraham to be the first one in the Bible called a “prophet” (Genesis 20:7).
In order to test his faith and to illustrate the supreme sacrifice of God in providing His Son to die for our sins, Abraham was asked by God to offer his own son Isaac. This act of faith helped to equip the prophet to become the defender of our covenant with God.
We are also swarmed with apostate ideologies today that attempt to silence God’s call to salvation. Abraham “believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). This simple gospel message of righteousness by faith is found in the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14 which we are to give to the world in the last days.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
Genesis 15:6, Galatians 3:6-9, and Hebrews 11:8
- Even though Abram made several mistakes, what qualified him to be God’s prophet?
Revelation 14:6
- Why is the gospel message of righteousness by faith so important in these last days?
Monday: The Elijah Message
What a dangerous mission was given to Elijah. He was told to deliver the message to King Ahab that a drought would begin in the land and last for many years. Later, in order to begin a revival of godliness, Elijah asked for a showdown with the false prophets of Baal and Asherah. The success on Mount Carmel, when God provided fire for Elijah’s offering, led to many returning to the God of Israel.
Malachi prophesied that Elijah’s message of repentance would be repeated before the coming of the Lord. Before Jesus comes again, God would send someone to prepare the way for that “great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Malachi 4:5, 6).
Ellen G. White confirmed that “A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs.” Selected Messages, book 1, p. 121 Revival, after all, is what motivates God’s people for the mission of spreading the gospel to the world.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
1 Kings 18:19-21, 37-39
- Why was Elijah so confident that God would answer his prayer in such a miraculous way?
- What kind of revival might be needed in your local church, and how might you be able to make it happen?
Tuesday: Isaiah, the Gospel Prophet
Isaiah, a major prophet in the Old Testament, boldly depicted the plan of salvation, including Christ’s humility, as well as His majesty. Chapter 53, written four hundred years before the Cross, passionately revealed the rejection and suffering of the Son of God.
This message about the tormented life and struggles of our Savior was not the one that most Israelites wanted to hear, however. Their refusal to accept it resulted in many, if not most, not recognizing the Messiah when He finally did arrive in a lowly stable as a tiny Babe in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
Isaiah shows us the desire of God to save us, humanity’s great need to be saved, and the attempts of Satan to keep us from being saved. No one can help us understand the gospel of salvation better than this humble, willing servant of God–the gospel prophet Isaiah.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
Isaiah 53:3-5
- Why would this be a prophecy that would not be popular with the majority of Jews who heard it?
- What are some of the things that Christ’s death accomplished for us?
- How have you personally grown closer to God from reading the message in Isaiah 53?
Wednesday: Daniel, the Faithful Seer
The Scriptures reveal no flaws or moral failures in the characters of both Joseph and Daniel. They both were carried away as youth to a foreign land and were under intense pressure to compromise their chosen faith. We know the story of how Daniel stood firm about diet, praying earnestly about the troubling situation of eating at the king’s table. And, later, praying fervently again, as his custom was, and being thrown into a lion’s den for his steadfast faith.
Today, we have the added incentive to believe in the prophetic visions given to Daniel, because so many of them have come to pass. The rise and fall of nations occurred just as God revealed, leaving us with the glorious hope that His Kingdom, not an earthly one, will be coming soon.
The prophetic visions Daniel was given, and even the ones he interpreted for the king, showed him to be the faithful seer that he was. We know more about the judgment of God through Daniel’s writings; just as John the revelator wrote about the judgment in the book of Revelation. These two books are often studied together for their amazing prophecies.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
Daniel 2:46-48, 4:18, 5:13-14, and 6:25-27
- How did Daniel bear witness to the pagans who surrounded him?
- What ways are you using to reach people today who need Him?
Daniel 2:43-45
- How is this prediction of the toes in the statue a good description of Europe today?
- Where and how do we find ourselves depicted in the statue in this dream ? And what does that tell us?
Thursday: John the Baptist, Preparing a People
Mark recognized John the Baptist as “the one crying in the wilderness”, spoken of in Isaiah 40:3. This prophet’s special task was to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Just as Elijah called God’s people to repentance, the cousin of Jesus made preparing people for repentance and baptism his lifework.
Satan was so threatened by John’s preaching that he had him thrown in prison. There he was encouraged by God’s enemy to question the identity of the Lamb of God. This, of course, was an attempt to burden the heart of our Lord and Savior. Jesus’ answer to John’s queries, however, was merely to recite passages from Isaiah that perfectly described His miracles, so John could see that He was the Son of God.
We, too, can feel burdened down with suffering in this life to the point that we question whether God is leading us. But this must not deter us from our call to be faithful witnesses,, no matter what the outcome may be for ourselves.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
Mark 1:2-5 and Isaiah 40:3-5
- How do these verses perfectly fit the ministry of John the Baptist?
- Why are repenting and baptisms important to our ministry today?
Malachi 4:5, 6 and Matthew 11:12-14
- How was John the Baptist like another Elijah?
- Why is a call to repentance needed before Jesus comes again?
Luke 1:17
- What does it mean to come “in the spirit and power of Elijah”?
- How can we get that same spirit and power that John and Elijah had?
Friday: Called to Prophetic Ministry
One has to appreciate the timing of Ellen Harmon White’s call to be a prophet. Her first vision, as she wrote years later, occurred just months after what’s been called the Great Disappointment of October 22, 1844. Millerite Adventist believers were tremendously disappointed when Jesus did not return on the day they had determined He would, on the ceremonial Day of Atonement found in the Old Testament.
It was at a small gathering of just five Adventist believers at her friend’s house that Ellen, a 17-year-old teenager, was given a vision that showed Adventist Christians walking on a path going up to heaven. A bright light was shining ahead to guide them. They would finally reach heaven if they stayed on the path before them. She shared this revelation of hope with those gathered that day, encouraging them to stay close to God and follow Him.
Many other visions she was given were comforting to that scattered, distressed band of early Adventist believers, some of whom, like her, became Seventh-day Adventists, when shown the importance of keeping the seventh-day holy.
Next Week: Old Testament Prophets
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