Delight in the Delay
Trust in God and His timing.
“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. Sarai said to Abram…Please go in to my servant. It may be that I will obtain children by her…Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my servant into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, she despised me…Yahweh’s angel said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael…She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?””
Genesis 16:1-2, 5, 11, 13
Anyone who thinks the Bible is boring has not read it. This is an old-fashioned love triangle gone wrong and one that should never have happened. Abram was promised a child. Sarai lost faith and tried to short cut God's plan only to get mad at the consequences of her choices.
How do we deal with unanswered prayers or delays in our expectations? Do we take things into our own hands? Did you notice that at no point does the text say they prayed unto the Lord?
“My soul, you have said to Yahweh, “You are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing…Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure…I will bless Yahweh, who has given me counsel. Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons…I have set Yahweh always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved…You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy.” Psalms 16:2, 5-8, 11
David knew delayed promises, danger, and hardships well. More importantly, David knew what mattered more than his prayers were God’s provision and presence. David sings of night seasons. We all have had those. Times where we see more darkness than light. How does he make it through the night? By listening to the Lord who gives counsel.
“The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh…Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed. A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps…There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 16:1, 3, 9, 25
The most common mistake we can make is to try to do things our way, in our timing, for our purposes. Wisdom says God always has a better way, better timing, and a better plan. I can choose to walk in step with Him and experience the grace of each day or I can suffer through the pain of my choices. Either way God directs our steps and His way leads to life.
Where have you gone out on your own apart from seeking God’s guidance?
“A throne will be established in loving kindness. One will sit on it in truth, in the tent of David, judging, seeking justice, and swift to do righteousness.” Isaiah 16:5
How thankful are you that we serve a king whose throne is built on loving kindness, trust, justice, and righteousness? What happens when we follow God’s plan? We walk with the peace of mind and loving grace that comes only from Jesus.
“Jesus…asked his disciples, saying, “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God…I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven…Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?”
Matthew 16:13, 15-16, 19, 24-26
Jesus is the promised Messiah. Do you realize how long the people had to wait for Him to come? Jesus invites each person to follow Him. He does not say run ahead and do what you want then I will save you. He says follow me. Deny your plan, your timing, and your very life so that you can receive the eternal life I give to you.
Today is a day to slow down, give thanks for the delays we face, and choose to follow Jesus at His pace, with His presence, with His power, in His peace according to His purposes.