Dropping Hints

For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets. — Amos 3:7 ESV

It can start early in the season: our loved ones dropping hints about — or even flat-out telling us — what they want for Christmas. And then when we find the perfect gift for someone, it can be hard to keep the secret all to ourselves. Some of us can’t resist giving the receiver a few hints along the way.

Scripture tells us that God is a hint dropper. More than that, for those willing to listen, He shares His plan outright. There is something warm and endearing about knowing that God wanted to share details about His Son. Throughout the years He was whispering pieces of His plan to the prophets.

In Jeremiah, God saw His people wandering in the darkness and whispered, “Don’t give up. He’s coming.”

He told Isaiah about the virgin birth. He couldn’t help but give hints about what was to come. He knew He had the perfect gift to give to the world, and He wanted to prepare God’s people for its delivery.

There’s so much we don’t know about the ways of God. Yet because of Christmas, His love for us is no secret. His hints throughout history were fulfilled in the manger. And He continues to whisper good things to His children:

For I know the plans I have for you,… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. — Jeremiah 29:11

May we tune our hearts to listen for God’s holy hints this season.

When you find the perfect gift, do you keep it a secret until the very end, so the gift is a total surprise, or are you prone to give some hints?

Read Isaiah 53. What connections do you see between this passage and Jesus’ life?

Take some time to talk to God today. Is there anything in your life He may be trying to give you a hint about?

Excerpted with permission from The Advent Project, copyright Zondervan.

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Your Turn

Are you watching out for the holy hints? Tune in and listen! Almighty God is speaking to you!