THE LORD KNEW YOU BEFORE TIME

The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I have been established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there was earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills I was brought forth; While as yet He had not made the earth or the files, or the primeval dust of the world. (Proverbs 8:22-26)


It’s difficult for us to understand what Solomon means when He said the Lord knew him before time. I believe He means, God knew him. He knew who he would be and what he would become one day.

Well, if we can draw any conclusions from this, then we would have to say God knew you and He knew me before time.

You see, most people believe things happen by accident. We turned out the way we did by some quirk of fate. It’s like God had no hand in our lives at all from the beginning to the end.
Let me ask you this question: Do you believe God knew Peter, before He chose Peter? Or how about this question: Do you believe God knew Saul, before he became Paul? Or how about David? Did He know David would eventually become king of Israel?

Certainly, the Word says there would be a betrayer to Christ. And Judas, was he birthed to betray Christ? Was his life doomed from the beginning or did something happen in his life that made him eventually betray Christ?

You see questions like these abound. Some say it’s our choices that got us where we are today. Other say God made us the way we are and He knows every step we will make before we make it. And He guides our steps and orders them daily.

Did God know Hitler, before Hitler’s birth? Did He preserve Hitler to be the evil person he became? Did Hitler have no choice in the matter? Was this God’s plan to force people back to Israel and establish their own nation?
Lots of questions to ponder. Think of some of Daniel’s predictions. He certainly predicted Alexander the Great. He even predicted his empire would eventually be divided into four separated areas. He predicted the rise of the Roman Empire and yes, even the coming of the anti-Christ. So, as you can see, God uses evil to make good take place.

Did God know Pontius Pilate before his birth? Did he birth him to sentence His only begotten Son one day? What did Pilate do that placed him over the people at that particular time?
We remember the two sons, Jacob and Esau. Esau came out of the womb before Jacob, yet Jacob received the blessings. Even before their birth, God determined this. The Word says Jacob He loved and Esau He hated.

God’s Word then says in Romans 10:15Romans 10:15English: King James Version (1611) - KJV15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
WP-Bible plugin, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” He continues by saying it has nothing to do with what we choose to do or the work we do. It has everything to do with His mercy.

Look what King Saul did and what David did? Who sinned worse in the eyes of man? Certainly, David did. Yet, David received mercy and Saul did not. He lost his kingdom.
In Romans 10:21Romans 10:21English: King James Version (1611) - KJV21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
WP-Bible plugin, the Word says, “Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessels for honor and another for dishonor? What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make know the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory?”

The Word continues by comparingvthe Jews and Gentiles. It also compared Esau and Jacob. So God can raise people and nations for His glory. He can also raise evil to bring about His glory and honor.

It’s difficult for us to understand God’s ways. I guess this is why He is God and we are not. His thoughts are eternal, while ours are finite. His ways are not our ways. If you think about all He planned for us, before time, and brought it about, it is a miracle. He already planned Christ’s line before time. And by His mighty hand He preserved it for 4,000r 4,000English: King James Version (1611) - KJVŠtetje svetopisemskih vrstic se za?ne z 1! Vrstica 0 ne obstaja!
WP-Bible pluginyears. Think about all the individuals in the line and how God had to preserve every person. For if one of them would have died, the Lord would not have come to earth.

Well, what’s my point? My point is this, God preserved you and He brought you to Himself. He drew you to Him, by the Holy Spirit. We’re not talking about just anybody. We’re talking about the One who formed the sun, the moon and the stars. The One who breathed life into man. The One who knows your coming and going. Yes, He knew you before time. And His mercy proves His love for you. And if you are going through a difficult period, this does not surprise Him. He is God. So, the same God who preserved Christ’s entire line, is the same God who can preserve you through the difficult times. Just call on Him. He had mercy enough to save you, does He not have mercy enough to preserve you?

By Lynn Sheldon