Predictions

Predictions

Job replied to the LORD:“I know that you can do all things;no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

Job 42:1-2 (NIV)

A self-proclaimed astrologer once foretold the death of a woman whom King Louis XI passionately loved. And the women did, in fact, die as the astrologer had predicted. But instead of believing that the astrologer had predicted only what was going to happen anyway, the king imagined that the astrologer’s prediction was, in fact, the cause of his love’s death.

Louis sent for the astrologer, intending to have him thrown through the window and killed as punishment. “Tell me,” he said to the astrologer, “you pretend to be so clever and such a learned man, what will your fate be?”

The astrologer, who suspected what the king was planning and knew his great foibles, replied, “Sir, I foresee that I shall die three days before Your Majesty.”

Believing the astrologer and rethinking his plan, the king took great care to protect the man’s life.

Another King’s death was predicted as well—not by an astrologer who claimed to read the stars, but by the one who created the stars. Oddly enough, that King’s death was part of God’s divine plan to save you and me.

Out of his extravagant love for us, God put a magnificent plan in place to rescue us from ourselves, from our sins. And as Job pointed out, no plan of God can be thwarted.

God’s shocking plan to allow his own Son to be murdered as a sacrifice for us was so outlandish that people failed to believe it. Even Satan stubbed his toe on the idea that God would allow his Son to die for us. Yet that is exactly what happened, just as God had planned long before.

Jesus, the embodiment of grace, died in our place.

Thank you, Father, for your unspeakable love! Words can never convey my gratitude for what you gave up for me. Take my life, Father, and use it up in thankful praise and honor to you. Amen.