God’s impeccable timing
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Faith Fitness
Bro. Sam Kaufman
Grasping the “big picture” of things hoped for but not seen in the specific moment requires faith in God.
Those situations require patiently waiting on God. It is not always easy, but after it does come to pass, we can always reflect and understand, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Amid the situation, we tend to ponder, “How could this be working for my good?”
But God’s timing is impeccable. His view on things is much larger than ours is. He can see the beginning from the end, and the end from the beginning.
We usually comprehend and live in the moment. But if we can remember the past, and how God came through for us so many times and in so many ways, we are encouraged that God has everything under control when we don’t understand.
Our experience kicks in. God’s ways are much higher than our ways. With God, nothing is impossible.
We must trust that God is working things out in our lives just the way He desires and what will benefit us. Many times, it is difficult to see that in the moment.
Moses’ return to Egypt after 40 years provides a perfect example of waiting upon the Lord. The Hebrews were optimistic when Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel to inform them of God’s plan of deliverance from Egyptian bondage.
This was after God heard their groaning from their oppression and remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. In fact, God had already revealed to Abraham many years prior what He would accomplish at this specific time.
“And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years. And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward they shall come out with great substance.” (Genesis 15:13-14).
Wow! It eventually happened just like God said it would. We can trust in His sovereignty.
But back to the “here and now” with the Hebrews so many years ago when they suffered affliction and oppression in Egypt. At that time, God looked upon the children of Israel, and had respect unto them, the Bible states.
God sent a deliver in the person of Moses. When Moses returned to Egypt, he and Aaron gathered all the elders of Israel to inform them of God’s plan to deliver them. They were excited about it and believed it.
“And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.” (Exodus 4:30-31).
But contrary to what the Hebrews felt would immediately occur, things actually became worse before they got better. This was God’s plan in the bigger picture.
In fact, God had already told Moses the Egyptian Pharaoh would not allow them to go at first. But those words perhaps were lost in the zeal and excitement of the prospect of God’s deliverance from Egypt.
The initial “let my people go” plea from Moses came with rejection and hardship. Pharaoh actually increased the Hebrews’ workload, requiring them to gather straw to make brick, but not diminishing the overall daily production when straw was provided.
When the expectations were not met, Hebrew foremen were beaten.
This wasn’t how the Hebrews felt their deliverance would go. They were looking for an immediate out. The Israelites grumbled, and Moses said to God, “For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.” (Exodus 5:23).
But God had a plan that the Hebrews didn’t comprehend until after it occurred. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart to not let His people go until after God revealed His power through the plagues that came upon Egypt.
Pharaoh finally let them go, but then attempted to stop them at the Red Sea. We all know the miracle God did there.
God’s works involving the plagues on Egypt were made known and spread abroad to let other people know God’s delivering power over the most powerful nation (Egypt) at that time. Other peoples and nations then feared the Hebrews because of the works of their God on their behalf.
