The English word prophet comes from the Hebrew word ‘nabiy’ and means spokesperson.  A prophet in the Old Testament spoke on behalf of God and brought a message from God to the people.  Most of the prophets in the Old Testament were male but there were some female prophets as well.

For example, we read in Exodus 15:20-21, “And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.  And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.”  God used Miriam to encourage the Israelites to rejoice that the Lord had delivered them from the Egyptians.

Deborah was another Old Testament prophetess.  We read in Judges 4:4-5, “And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.  And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.”

God is not through choosing female prophets.  After the Tribulation when Christ comes to Earth for the second time, the nation of Israel will repent and be restored to their Messiah.  This is the time period that Joel 2:28 discusses.  This verses states, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”  (196.10)  (DJ)