As far as Moses knew, his exile in Midian would last the rest of his life. If he had known it would end after 40 years, would he have found the backside of the desert less lonely?
If Abraham had known about that ram already caught in the thicket, would it have been less heartbreaking to bind Isaac to the altar?
Joseph could see no end to his slavery and imprisonment in Egypt. Would knowing that he would be prime minister by age 30 have brought light to those dark days?
When Esther said, “If I perish . . .” she knew that death was a real possibility. If she could have foreseen the held-out scepter and the deliverance of her people, would she have wept fewer anxious tears?
If during his deepest agonies, Job could have foreseen that Jehovah would bless him in “the latter days . . . more than his beginning,” would he still have wished he had never been born?
Jonah knew he deserved his slimy swim in the fish’s belly but not if he’d ever get out of there. If he had known he’d be free in three days, would the stink have seemed less stinky and the terror less terrible?
As far as the three Hebrew children knew, they were about to be burned alive. If they had known they’d emerge without even a singed hair, would they have entered the fiery furnace even more serenely?
As far as Peter knew, his denial meant the end of his usefulness. If he had known what would happen when he preached at Pentecost just seven weeks later, would his bitter tears of repentance have been sweetened by hope?
If the disciples in Gethsemane had known what would happen in three days, would they still have forsaken Him and fled?
If you could see how after you have suffered a while, your trials would "perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you," would you find it easier to trust the God of all grace? If you believed with all your heart that your circumstances were working together to conform you to the image of His Son, would you thank Him for them now?
If you could predict how the story of your adventures with God would someday encourage others in their own struggles, would that bring you hope? If you could read His end from your beginning as easily as you read these Bible stories, would you be encouraged?
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:6-8).
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