Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without
revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
AMOS 3:7
What a remarkable verse! Not only has the God of history not been “winging it” as his plans were unfolding, but all along he has been pleased to inform his prophets of his intentions!
This Sunday. Jackson Randall will be preaching the following text from 1 Peter 1:10-12:
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. 1 PETER 1:10-12
The list is a long one of those whom God chose to inform of his plans. Look what Abraham was told in Genesis 15:
Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions.
You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” GENESIS 15:13-16
Noah was informed of the flood, Abraham informed of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Jeremiah given insight into the 70 years that the Jews would be captives in Babylon.
Moses was informed that after his death, “these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them. And in that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them, and they will be destroyed. Many disasters and calamities will come on them, and in that day they will ask, ‘Have not these disasters come on us because our God is not with us?’ And I will certainly hide my face in that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods. DEUTERONOMY 31:16-18
Daniel was so stunned by what he saw of the future that he was exhausted and lay ill for several days (Daniel 8:27). Think of the insight that Mary was given into the child she would bare – the longed-awaited Messiah! John, on the isle of Patmos, was allowed to catch of glimpse into eternity!
Again and again God has shown his friendship by sharing his heart with those who are called by his name.
The Lord confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.
PSALM 25:14
So we serve a personal, relational God who loves to reveal himself. How wonderful is that? If angels long to investigate the glories of our God and his purpose and plan, how much more should we?
God longs to reveal himself to you. Come this Sunday ready to respond as one who desires and welcomes a deepening intimacy with God.