Don't Leave Your Cow in the Yard

The Sovereign LORD never does anything without revealing his plan to his servants ...

Amos 3:7, Today's English Version

Why does God reveal His plans in advance?

Advanced warnings are often a call to repentance.

When Jonah announced Nineveh's impending destruction "the people of Nineveh believed God's message. So they decided that everyone should fast, and all the people, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth to show that they had repented" (Jonah 3:5).

When Jezebel seduced the church at Thyatria into idolatry and immorality Jesus said, "I have given her time to repent of her sins ..." (Rev. 2:21).

Advanced warnings bring assurance.

To prepare His disciples for the cross and beyond, Jesus said to them, "I have told you this now before it all happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe" ( John 14:29).

When Satan asked permission to test Peter, Jesus warned him in advance to assure him that He had already prayed for him (Luke 22:31).

Knowing in advance tells us that God has not been taken by surprise ... that He has everything under control ... the He cared enough to let us know ahead of time.

If God precedes the commencement of the trial, is He likely to be absent at its conclusion?

Advanced warnings give time to prepare.

God's plan to preserve Jacob's family from starvation began many years before the famine arrived in Egypt. He chose Joseph ... arranged his trip to Egypt ... directed his training ... orchestrated his rise to power ... gave Pharaoh a dream ... gave Joseph the interpretation ... and then gave them 7 more years to grow and store enough food to feed the people.

Prov 22:3 says, "A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."

Advanced warnings are a call to action.

In Acts 11:28-29 a prophet named Agabus "predicted that a severe famine was about to come over all the earth." Hearing the warning, "the disciples decided that each of them would send as much as he could to help their fellow believers who lived in Judea."

Prior to the plague of hail in Egypt, God warned the people to protect their livestock: "This time tomorrow I will cause a heavy hailstorm ... now give orders for your livestock and everything else you have in the open to be put under shelter. Hail will fall on the people and animals left outside unprotected, and they will all die."

Some of the king's officials believed what the LORD had said, and they brought their slaves and animals indoors for shelter. Others, however, paid no attention to the LORD's warning and left their slaves and animals out in the open" (Ex 9:18-21). When the hail stones fell, they perished.

Conclusion

At the approach of a hurricane, the National Weather Service will issue an immediate warning so the residents in the storm's path will have time to prepare. Making preparations for a coming storm is wisdom, not fear.

In light of the storm warnings that are sounding across the land today our response should be one of:

• personal repentance ...
• peace, not panic ...
• prudence, not paranoia ...
• action, not apathy.

When God warns of a hail storm, don't leave your cow in the yard.

Got milk?