[YTM] 5.0 God’s Revealed Plans and Perfect Timing

5.1 Reveled through His Servants and Prophets

We all know that life is full of surprises. But does God allow things to happen without any warning, leaving us completely unprepared? According to the prophet Amos, that is not the case. In Amos 3:7 we read, “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” God always gives advance notice of His plans, revealing them to His chosen servants, the prophets.

Even today, God continues to reveal future events through His Word. Yet, many ignore these warnings because they do not see immediate results. Some expect prophecies to come to pass right away, but that is not always how God works. The apostle Peter explained the seeming delay in 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

When God planned to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness, He revealed His intention to Abraham, saying in Genesis 18:17–18, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.”

This pattern of divine revelation occurred repeatedly throughout Israel’s history. Because God cares deeply for His people, He used prophets and priests to announce His plans—whether to build up or to tear down, to bless or to judge. As He declared in Isaiah 46:10: “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.”

However, because prophecies often take time to be fulfilled, many people dismiss them. Some find comfort in God’s promises but doubt they will actually experience them. Others are stirred by warnings but soon return to their old ways when no immediate consequences appear. But will God fail to fulfill His Word? Certainly not.

The prophet Habakkuk reminds us in Habakkuk 2:3: “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” God has His perfect timing for everything. What He has promised will come to pass in its appointed time, for He makes all things beautiful in His time.

Therefore, we must learn to wait on the Lord. Delays are often for our benefit—to give us time to repent and prepare. If we remain steadfast in faith and trust that God’s Word never fails, we will not be caught off guard when His plans unfold.

How long will it linger? It will linger as long as we are not ready. The prophecy of the Lord Jesus Christ’s birth, for instance, did not happen immediately. It was foretold from the very beginning—right after the fall of man in the Garden of Eden—and repeated many times through the prophets.

In Isaiah 7:14 it was written, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” This prophecy was fulfilled about two thousand years ago when the angel Gabriel said to Mary, a virgin, “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus” (Luke 1:31). Though Mary wondered how this could happen, she humbly replied in Luke 1:38: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

Because God reveals His plans before they occur, we must pay attention to the warnings written in Scripture. Each revelation has its appointed time of fulfillment, and we will be blessed if we are ready. Even when faced with difficult circumstances, our response should be like Mary’s: “May it be to me as you have said.”

Had Mary refused God’s calling out of fear of ridicule, she would not have been highly favored. Likewise, we are called to bear the name of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah with courage and faith. Let us carry His name confidently, regardless of persecution or mockery. No matter whom God chooses as His messenger, may we receive His word with the same heart as Mary and say, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you say.” Hallelujah!

5.2 The Fulfillment of God’s Eternal Plan

God desires to express Himself through humanity. For this reason, He created man in His own image (Genesis 1:26; 2:7). The Old Testament—written centuries before the Messiah’s birth—foretold the “where,” “when,” and “how” of His coming: Micah 5:2 revealed where He would be born, Daniel 9:26 when, and Isaiah 7:14 how.

From Genesis 3:15, we learn that He would be born of a woman, through the line of Adam’s son Seth (Genesis 4:26), Noah’s son Shem (Genesis 9:26–27), and Abraham (Genesis 12:3; 15:5). He would come from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10) and be a descendant of King David (2 Samuel 7:12). The Old Testament also foretold that the Messiah would die for our sins (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 12:10) and rise from the dead (Psalm 2:7; 16:10).

From God’s perspective, His plan is already complete, as written in Hebrews 4:3: “His works were finished from the foundation of the world.” Yet from a human standpoint, that plan unfolds progressively through history and is only partly revealed.

The Law of Moses outlined the foundation of God’s plan, which began to take shape in Israel’s history. The prophets continually reminded Israel of God’s covenant and added further details. The Law foretold a Savior through the “seed” of Eve (Genesis 3:15), later revealed as a descendant of David (2 Samuel 7) and born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14).

The Messiah’s suffering was foreshadowed in many events—the offering of Isaac (Genesis 22), the suffering of Joseph (Genesis 37–50), and the Passover lamb (Exodus 12). These were explained more fully in Psalms 16 and 22 and in Isaiah 53.

Initially, the coming Messiah was understood to be the “Son of Man,” but later Scripture revealed Him as the “Son of God” (Isaiah 9:6–7; Micah 5:2). Thus, the Messiah was progressively revealed as both divine and human—the God-Man.

When the Lord Yeshua came, suffered, died, and rose again, God’s plan for the Messiah’s first coming was fulfilled. The Bible clearly explains this plan. Our Lord, along with His apostles, has also revealed God’s plan for His Next coming (return).