“Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him” (Genesis 42:8)

This morning’s devotion dealt with saints growing in their knowledge of Christ. This evening we deal with Christ’s knowledge of sinners “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them” (Psalms 139:16). 

 When we were still His enemy, He knew us, our misery, our madness, and our wickedness. When we viewed Him as a severe taskmaster, He viewed us as His beloved. “The Lord knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19) even when they despise and reject Him. We didn’t trust Him and ignored His Word. We rebelled against Him, and paid Him no respect. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:4-5). 

 God be praised, those days are over for us. We’ve started to get to know Him, but He already knows us completely, which is a good thing. On Judgment Day, the people He doesn’t know will hear, “'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:23), while we will hear, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).