Revealed Progressively

When Adam and Eve sinned, it may have appeared that Jehovah's purpose to have an earthly paradise inhabited by perfect humans had been thwarted. But God immediately addressed the problem. He said: "I shall put enmity between you and the [serpent] and the woman and between your seed and her seed. He will bruise you in the head and you will bruise him in the heel." -Genesis 3:15.

These were puzzling, cryptic words. Who was this woman? Who was the serpent? Who was the "seed" that would bruise the serpents head? Adam and Eve could only guess. Still, God's words provided hope for any faithful offspring of that unfaithful pair. Righteousness would triumph. Jehovah's purpose would be realized. But how? Ah, that was a mystery! The Bible calls it "God's wisdom in a sacred secret, the hidden wisdom." -1 Corinthians 2:7.

As the "Revealer of secrets," Jehovah would eventually unveil pertinent details regarding the outworking of this secret. (Daniel2:28) But he would do so gradually, progressively. To illustrate, we might think of the way a loving father responds when his little boy asks, "Dad, where did I come from?" A wise father provides only as much information as that little boy can grasp. As the boy gets older, the father tells him more. In a similar way, Jehovah determines when his people are ready for revelations of his will and purpose. -Proverbs 4:18; Daniel 12:4.

Next time: Conclusion of Revealed Progressively

Draw Close To Jehovah, 2002