I take God at His word when He says He is the Beginning and the End, the One who knows ALL things—including those He chose before the foundation of the world. But last year, the Lord began speaking something to me that changed the way I understood this truth.

Over and over, I kept hearing Him say:

“I knew you before the foundations of the earth were laid.”

At first, I simply received it as a comforting reminder that God had a plan for my life. But one night, the Lord led me to Genesis 1:11, and suddenly, a deeper revelation began to unfold before me:

“Then God said, Let the earth bud forth the bud of the herb that seedeth seed, the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, which hath his seed in itself upon the earth: and it was so.”

I had read this verse countless times before, but this time, God was showing me something beyond the natural order of creation—something deeply spiritual.

I suddenly began to see between the lines of the text and understand how the buds, seeds, shoots, and trees in Genesis 1:11 weren’t just descriptions of plant life, but a prophetic picture of His elect ones—those He has chosen before time to bear fruit for His glory.

Paul confirms this truth in Ephesians 1:4:

“For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”

Before God spoke light into existence, before He separated the heavens from the earth, He already knew us. We were not an afterthought. We were planted in His divine plan before time even began.

Genesis 1:11 revealed to me that just as every seed carries within it the full blueprint of what it is meant to become, so do we. From the beginning, God’s elect were designed to grow into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29-30).

The Lord continued to unfold this revelation, leading me to Isaiah 11:1:

“And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.”

Jesus, the Shoot of Jesse, is the ultimate fulfillment of this truth.

A shoot emerging from what appears to be a lifeless tree—just as Jesus sprang forth from a seemingly broken lineage to bring new life.

Where all hope seemed lost, God had already planted the seed of redemption.

And then it hit me again: If Jesus, was chosen before time to fulfill God’s plan, then so were we.

In John 17:9, Jesus prays:

“I pray for them: I do not pray for the world, but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.”

Let that sink in for a moment and then go read the entire John 17 prayer.

It says Jesus’ intercession was not random—it reflects the truth that the Father had already planted His elect, and Jesus came to fulfill their redemption.

God began to show me that the growth process of a plant mirrors our spiritual journey as His chosen people —we are destined to mature into trees of righteousness, bearing fruit for His glory (Isaiah 61:3).

It all begins with our budding which represents our spiritual awakening IN CHRIST.

A bud holds the potential for future growth, it’s just waiting for the right conditions and season to bloom. We, too, were already chosen before time, waiting for our lives to catch up to what He spoke over us!

When God said, “AND IT WAS GOOD”, He declared that His handiwork was intentional, complete, and perfectly aligned with His will.

Jeremiah 29:11– “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope”.

Job 14:7-9 – “For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not cease.”

A shoot must develop strong roots before it can withstand storms. Therefore, we must also be deeply rooted in Him to grow into our divine purpose.

Colossians 2:7 – “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith.”

Psalm 92:12-13 – “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”

Once a tree is mature, it produces fruit according to its kind—just as we are called to bear the fruit of the Spirit and reflect Christ.

Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.”

The harvest comes when the fruit is ripe. God will then gather us when the appointed time arrives.

Matthew 13:37-39 – “He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom.”

Revelation 14:15 – “Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

Genesis 1:11 still revealed something even greater—everything God created was designed to reproduce after its kind. This means that as God’s elect, we are not just called to grow but to multiply!

Jesus reinforced this in Matthew 28:19 when He said:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”

Like trees producing seeds that grow into more trees, we are called to disciple others and advance the Kingdom of God (2 Timothy 2:2).

As the Lord revealed all of this to me, I saw clearly how Genesis 1:11 isn’t just about creation—it’s about our divine destiny.

From the first seed to the final harvest, God has set a clear pattern:

1. We were chosen and planted before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).

2. We were awakened to grow into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29-30).

3. We were rooted in Him, called to flourish and bear fruit (Psalm 92:12-13).

4. We were designed to multiply and expand His Kingdom (Matthew 28:19).

5. We are destined to be gathered in His final harvest (Revelation 14:15).

We are not random. 

We are not accidental. 

We are the planting of the Lord—chosen, rooted, and destined to bear fruit for eternity.

I pray this revelation strengthens and encourages you to confidently walk in the fullness of who God has called you to be!

Say this prayer with me 🙏🏾:

Heavenly Father,

I come before You in awe, knowing that before the foundation of the world, You knew me. You chose me, planted me, and called me to bear fruit for Your glory. Thank You for revealing that I am not an accident, but part of Your divine plan, created with purpose and destiny in mind.

Lord, just as You spoke life into the earth in Genesis 1:11, speak life into every part of my being. Let the seed of Your Word take deep root in my heart, growing into a tree of righteousness, planted by You. Strengthen my faith so that I may flourish, bearing fruit that reflects Your love, joy, and righteousness.

Jesus, You are the Shoot of Jesse, the fulfillment of every promise, the One who brings life where all hope seems lost. As I abide in You, help me grow in wisdom, grace, and obedience. Prune away anything in me that does not align with Your will, and cultivate within me the character of Christ.

Father, I surrender to Your process—from bud to shoot, from root to tree, from seed to harvest. Let my life be a testimony of Your faithfulness. May I not only grow in You but also multiply, planting seeds of faith in others, discipling and encouraging those You place in my path.

At the appointed time, gather me as part of Your great harvest, fully matured in faith and walking in the purpose for which You created me. Until that day, keep me rooted in You, steadfast in truth, and flourishing for Your Kingdom.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.