עמוס, פרק ג׳, פסוק ז׳

God’s management of the world is neither arbitrary nor completely hidden; rather, it operates with careful providence and transparency toward His chosen messengers. The primary approach among commentators is that God never takes action in the world without giving advance notice. His plans remain entirely unknown to anyone until He deliberately chooses to share them through His prophets [רד״ק].

This early revelation is not merely a transfer of information, but a vital warning mechanism. God shares His plans so that the prophets can caution humanity and guide them back to a straight path, allowing people to protect themselves from impending hardship [צאינה וראינה, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This advance notice also serves to prevent despair. When facing a heavenly decree, people might mistakenly believe their fate is permanently sealed and that returning to God is pointless. In reality, while God issues decrees, He intentionally delays carrying them out. This pause gives the prophets time to alert the public. The ultimate goal is always to inspire the people to abandon their bad behavior, thereby canceling the decree before it ever takes effect [מלבי״ם]. Furthermore, when the public watches events unfold exactly as predicted, it removes all doubt that the hardship came directly from God. This clear realization is meant to be a powerful catalyst for repentance [רד״ק].

Alongside this historical and moral perspective, a mystical approach connects this process to the future redemption. In this view, the hidden message God reveals is the redemption itself, specifically pointing to the study of mystical teachings. This deep wisdom is meant to spread throughout the generation preceding the Messiah, serving as a spiritual tool to bring his arrival closer. Rather than referring to classical prophets, the messengers in this context are the great Torah scholars of the era. Infused with the spirit of God, these scholars are elevated to the very level of prophecy [אדרת אליהו].