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By R.A. Tea Mathews

Have you ever felt strangely drawn to act in some way? Then, later, realized that God had shown you the future?

My grandfather owned a store several blocks from my grandparents’ house. One dark night, when he was at work, my grandmother suddenly got up and dressed like a man. She shoved her hair under one of my grandfather’s hats and hurried down the street, sensing he was in danger.

Stepping inside the store, she found a robber with my grandfather. Immediately, the thief bolted and ran.

This was my mom’s mom, an ordained Nazarene minister. She was renowned for her faithfulness to God. My family always thought it was because of her closeness to the Lord that God showed her the future that night.

Scripture tells us about people who saw the future. Do you remember who that included?  Was it:

1. Deborah;
2. Samuel;
3. Daniel;
4. All of the above; or
5. None of the above?

Consider your choices and lock in your answer. 

The Bible is filled with people who saw the future like Joseph, Elijah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Micah. The list goes on and on, including Deborah, Samuel, and Daniel. The correct answer is No. 4.

Deborah was a judge with authority over all the men of Israel, directing both the nation and the military.  She told Barak, her cowardly general, how an enemy general would die—a great story! (Judges 4:1-22)

But what about unnamed figures? Are there any such characters in Scripture whom God chose to show the future?

Consider the man with the jug.

One day, this man felt strangely drawn to the edge of the city where he met two men. The two followed him home. Those men then spoke with the head of the household, asking to see his guest room.

Only later would the man with the jug know the role he played for God.

It was Jesus who arrived that night: a Thursday. He brought with Him the twelve disciples and ate dinner in that upstairs guest room. This was the night before His crucifixion.

The two men were Peter and John. Jesus had told them that a man with a jar of water would be waiting for them at the edge of the city and would lead them to the house. Here’s the passage:

“Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.’ They said to Him, ‘Where will You have us prepare it?’ He said to them, ‘Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters …’” (Luke 22:7-10)

Jesus also told Peter and John to approach the master of the house, to ask to be shown the large, furnished upper room.

Jesus said, “Tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” (Luke 22:11-13)

Jesus knew everything that would happen, but the man with the jug had no idea. All the man knew was that he felt led to meet two men at the edge of the city. Later he would realize the part he played in one of the most sacred events in Scripture – the Last Supper.

Must you be special to be led by God? Remember, the man with the jug isn’t even named in the Bible.

You may find yourself guided by a feeling or a dream. A series of events may tug at you, too coincidental to be sheer coincidence. You may even be led by a miracle.

Draw close to God and listen.

Solomon said it plainly: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

As you learn to see the Lord leading you and then start to act on His guidance, God will develop trust in you. And you in Him. The same trust the man with the jug felt. He didn’t know the reason, he only knew he was to go to the edge of the city with a water jug, that he would meet two men, and that he was to lead them back to where he lived.

The more you trust and act, the more you will be shown.

Do it. Show God your faithfulness. And get ready for the Lord to show you the future.

The Rev. Mathews, BA, MDiv, JD, is a faith columnist and the author of “Reaching to God.” Contact her at Hello@RAMathews.com to join her 1-Minute Bible Study.

Copyright © 2023 R.A. Mathews. All rights reserved.