Isaiah 46:9-10 (NIV)
Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.
I noticed something while reading the Word of God, He always speaks the end at the beginning to those who are seeking His help. Even at the very beginning of the Bible in Genesis 1 we see that during creation He said what the end results should be and it was. When it was dark, God didn't bemoan the circumstances and talk about them. God said, "Light be" and it was!
In Genesis 15:2-5 (NIV) we see a conversation between God and Abram regarding a problem Abram was having in bringing forth an heir.
2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Do you see what God did? He not only spoke an answer to Abram regarding an heir but He spoke to Abram a vision far beyond that initial answer. God spoke of multitudes that would be his descendants!
The Lord commanded Abram to cut a covenant with Him and then the conversation continues...
Genesis 15:12-16 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. 13 Then the Lord said to him, “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. 14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. 15 You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”
Not only did God tell Abram he'd have a son and descendants, but He also expanded the vision even more and told Abram what would happen to those descendants 400 years later! God shared a considerable amount of detail, painting the picture, including that Abram's descendants would plunder Egypt when they left during the exodus and that Abram would die in peace at a good old age. (That was sweet of our King.)
God didn't just speak the end from the beginning to Abram either. When Moses was standing in front of the burning bush, God painted the picture of the entire exodus for him. Look at Exodus 3:19-21 (NIV), 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.
21 “And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed.
Moses was struggling with fear. He knew he was to be used as the deliverer but his image of himself was very limited. God's answer to Moses placed a new, expanded vision on the screen of Moses' mind. God went way beyond what Moses was struggling with (fear of leading) and told him details such as 1) the King of Egypt won't listen to you, 2) God would do mighty wonders to compel the King of Egypt, 3) God would actually stretch out His hand to help His people, 4) The King of Egypt would eventually let God's people go, 5) the Egyptians would be favorably disposed towards God's people and 6) God's people would plunder the Egyptians on their way out! That's amazing! And that was the Old Testament!
In John 10:27 (NIV) Jesus said, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."
If you listen to His voice, He will speak of things to come and show you the end, the answer to your problem, from the beginning. When He does that, don't reason it away. Agree with what God is showing you. Set your vision in agreement with God's Word to you. Then you can celebrate the outcome before a single thing in the natural has changed. We call this, "Thinking From".
We will discuss "thinking from" in our future blogs. Until then, listen to the King as He reveals your good end and keep living out of the Kingdom.