“I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass” (Isaiah 48:3).

God’s people were so ingrained with idolatry that, many times God would speak and bring things to pass suddenly, so that His people would not give the credit for the answer to their idols. “I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them” (v.5)

Even today, mankind is still rejecting what God has done, giving credit instead to the false gods of evolution and humanistic reasonings. The suddenness of God’s judgment upon such is a frightening truth.

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (I Thessalonians 5:3).

“Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy” (Proverbs 6:15).

“So will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly” (Deuteronomy 7:4).

Even Miriam, Moses’ sister, received immediate judgment due to her complaining spirit: “And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam. . . . And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them. . . . And, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow” (Numbers 12:4,9,10).

“The LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple. . . . But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth?” (Malachi 3:1,2)—only those who have received Christ as their personal Savior—even Jesus, who has “delivered us from the wrath to come” (I Thessalonians 1:10). NPS