Since the first predictive prophecy was made by God Himself and recorded by Moses in Genesis 3:15, man has been enthralled with prophecy, especially that which is both promissory and predictive. It would appear that one of the greatest apologetic tools at our disposal is that of prophetic promise. For if a promise is made centuries, years or even months before an event transpires, God must be responsible, since no man can see into the future. The Bible is replete with prophetic promises; consequently, it must be true that there is a God who has revealed Himself through inspired writings.
In Isaiah 65:23-24, we find one of the most magnificent, heart-warming and winsome prophetic promises ever recorded. The inspired prophet wrote, “They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for trouble; for they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” Here, in a section of remarkable prophecy concerning the coming of the kingdom (church) and the nature of it, Isaiah wrote a further description of the peaceable kingdom in which he included the promises of God for those who would enter it. Christians need to review these promises from time to time.
Working very hard at something and failing brings great disappointment and heartache to the laborer. Hence, the promise that citizens of the kingdom of Christ will not labor in vain, nor will they bring forth children (i.e., make converts for nothing but trouble). The prophet did not promise that Christians would never have trials, testing or persecutions; He did emphasize they were not converted for that alone, but for the great blessings to be received in time and eternity. They are the descendants of those who had been blessed by Yahweh. In the New Testament, perhaps with this prophecy in mind, Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ…” Furthermore, the prophet added that the offspring of the descendants would be blessed, simply meaning the blessings of the kingdom would be passed on from generation to generation. Christians today receive the very same spiritual blessings as the first Christians!
In the 24th verse, Isaiah quoted God as saying, “…before they call, I will answer; while they speak He would hear” (i.e., know, understand and provide for their needs). God has fulfilled this promise in many ways. For example, before man ever knew he needed salvation from his sin, or called upon Yahweh to provide that blessing to him, the Father provided the answer to that dilemma through His Son Jesus Christ. When mankind did learn of that need, God hesitated not to fulfill it through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. Even before the Christian calls upon the Father in prayer, He knows our daily physical needs (Matthew 6:8) and our spiritual needs, and while we are calling on Him to provide them, He hears and provides. The blessings that come to the citizens of the kingdom of Christ are rich, full and never failing (Lamentations 3:22-23). What precious promises!
