Trusting in the Timing and Plan of God
The Timing and Plan of God
Genesis 17-20
“I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly” (Gens 17:1-2)
Navigating through life with all its confusion and risks gives us a feeling of vulnerability and apprehension. We live in confusing times when nothing seems certain, and we face the confusion of current events that happen not only in the world but also in our personal lives. How do we find perspective and security today?
Abraham had received the promise of God’s blessing. When God first gave His promise to Abraham, Abraham was elated. But soon the promise became a distant memory as the struggles of life weighed upon him. Consequently, he decided to take matters into his own hands. Abraham was 75 years old when God first promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations. However, as time marched on, the promise of a child became distant and unfulfilled. After 11 years, Abraham and Sarah lost hope and sought to take matters into their own hands, resulting in the birth of Ishmael (16:16). After 24 years of waiting for the promised son, Abraham and Sarah had given up. When the Lord appeared to Abraham at the age of 99 and reiterated the promise that he would have a son, Abraham laughed. It was not a laugh of joy, but rather a laugh of incredulity, for Sarah was 90, and they were both past the age of bearing children. When Sarah heard of the prediction, she also laughed in disbelief (18:12). After 25 years of waiting, the promise felt like a fairytale, and hope seemed lost. The one thing they failed to realize was the power of God.
Despite their doubts and disbelief, God performed a miracle. At an age when having children was no longer a physical possibility, God enabled Sarah to have a child, and once again she laughed. However, this laugh was the laughter of joy, so they named the child Isaac, which means laughter (26).
While we laugh at the folly of Abraham and Sarah for failing to trust in God's promise, we often fall into the same trap. We look at God's promises and prophecies and begin to doubt. Life seems to march continually unchanged as we travel through time and space. We see God's promises (and warnings), and we begin to doubt their truthfulness and veracity. Instead, like Abraham, we strive to obtain God’s blessings through strength and wisdom. We take matters into our own hands and assume that the Bible’s prophecies are just symbolic words. We start to live life by our wisdom and strength. We strive for a blessed life based on our terms and means rather than trusting and surrendering to God.
Like Abraham, we fail to recognize that God’s timing and plans are not ours, but they are certain. God will always be faithful to His word. To experience God’s blessings, we must learn to live by faith and trust in God’s word and promises, even when the present circumstances contradict what He has said. Faith is not just living in obedience and surrendering to God’s plan when it is apparent, and the blessings are experienced; faith is living in obedience to God when life seems to contradict our expectations. God has revealed His promises and His word to us. The question is not “if” He will fulfill them. The only question is “when and how” He will fulfill them. When we trust in God, He can turn our laughter of doubt into the laughter of joy as we realize that not only are His blessings true, but His timing and plans are perfect. Are you setting your sights only on the present and the problems you confront today, or are you setting your sights on the promises of God, knowing that He will fulfill those promises in His perfect timing?
Genesis 17-20
“I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly” (Gens 17:1-2)
Navigating through life with all its confusion and risks gives us a feeling of vulnerability and apprehension. We live in confusing times when nothing seems certain, and we face the confusion of current events that happen not only in the world but also in our personal lives. How do we find perspective and security today?
Abraham had received the promise of God’s blessing. When God first gave His promise to Abraham, Abraham was elated. But soon the promise became a distant memory as the struggles of life weighed upon him. Consequently, he decided to take matters into his own hands. Abraham was 75 years old when God first promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations. However, as time marched on, the promise of a child became distant and unfulfilled. After 11 years, Abraham and Sarah lost hope and sought to take matters into their own hands, resulting in the birth of Ishmael (16:16). After 24 years of waiting for the promised son, Abraham and Sarah had given up. When the Lord appeared to Abraham at the age of 99 and reiterated the promise that he would have a son, Abraham laughed. It was not a laugh of joy, but rather a laugh of incredulity, for Sarah was 90, and they were both past the age of bearing children. When Sarah heard of the prediction, she also laughed in disbelief (18:12). After 25 years of waiting, the promise felt like a fairytale, and hope seemed lost. The one thing they failed to realize was the power of God.
Despite their doubts and disbelief, God performed a miracle. At an age when having children was no longer a physical possibility, God enabled Sarah to have a child, and once again she laughed. However, this laugh was the laughter of joy, so they named the child Isaac, which means laughter (26).
While we laugh at the folly of Abraham and Sarah for failing to trust in God's promise, we often fall into the same trap. We look at God's promises and prophecies and begin to doubt. Life seems to march continually unchanged as we travel through time and space. We see God's promises (and warnings), and we begin to doubt their truthfulness and veracity. Instead, like Abraham, we strive to obtain God’s blessings through strength and wisdom. We take matters into our own hands and assume that the Bible’s prophecies are just symbolic words. We start to live life by our wisdom and strength. We strive for a blessed life based on our terms and means rather than trusting and surrendering to God.
Like Abraham, we fail to recognize that God’s timing and plans are not ours, but they are certain. God will always be faithful to His word. To experience God’s blessings, we must learn to live by faith and trust in God’s word and promises, even when the present circumstances contradict what He has said. Faith is not just living in obedience and surrendering to God’s plan when it is apparent, and the blessings are experienced; faith is living in obedience to God when life seems to contradict our expectations. God has revealed His promises and His word to us. The question is not “if” He will fulfill them. The only question is “when and how” He will fulfill them. When we trust in God, He can turn our laughter of doubt into the laughter of joy as we realize that not only are His blessings true, but His timing and plans are perfect. Are you setting your sights only on the present and the problems you confront today, or are you setting your sights on the promises of God, knowing that He will fulfill those promises in His perfect timing?
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