The End from the Beginning

Some people so desperately want to know what will happen in their future. When God speaks of the future, when He tells us of the events that are going to unfold in human history, He knows what He is talking about.

That’s because God can see into eternity. Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, God said, “Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done” (Isaiah 46:9–10 NKJV).

God knows “the end from the beginning.” The arrangement of those words is striking because it’s the exact opposite of the way that humans know history.

We are limited by time and space and learn about things as they unfold in time, from the beginning to the end. But God says, “I know the end from the beginning. I already know what will happen.”

He is eternal, infinite, perfect, and timeless. Therefore, if God tells us when certain things will happen, we can take it to the bank. When we read Bible prophecy, we can be sure that it is always accurate and that these things will happen just as He has said.

And not only does God know about the universe, not only does He know about every little bird that falls to the ground, not only does He know every thought that we think, He also searches us and knows us. He knows the intimate details of our lives.

The psalmist David wrote, “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me” (Psalm 139:1 NLT). The word examined in the original language means “to pierce through.” We sometimes speak of seeing through a person, meaning we know someone’s real intentions. In God’s case, this is literally true. And on more than one occasion, this was a source of particular irritation for people around Jesus because He could read their minds.

He read the minds of His disciples. And He reads our minds today. We must remember, as the adage says, that Jesus is the unseen listener to every conversation. He is the unseen guest at every table. There He is, taking it all in, aware of everything.

Sometimes, we forget things, but God doesn’t forget anything, except that He chooses to “never again remember [our] sins” (Hebrews 8:12 NLT). He has knowledge of all things. Now, if you’re trying to run from God, that is a cause for concern. It means that your efforts will meet with failure. But if you’re walking with God, that brings great comfort because that means you will never be alone.

David went on to say, “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head” (Psalm 139:5 NLT). Or, as the New King James Version puts it, “You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.”

God hedges us in on every side. He is there, watching us and taking care of us.

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