CHAPTER 4 GOD'S TIME
I heard a joke a short while ago which is illustrative of an important concept we must understand if we are going to walk the road to maturity in Christ. It went something like this: Noah was engaged in a conversation with God and asked, "Is it true that to You a million of our years is like a second?" God then responded, "Yes Noah. Why do you ask?" Whereupon Noah said, "Since a million is such a small insignificant figure to You, may I have a million dollars to help me with the building project?" God replied, "Of course Noah, just a second!"
That response should have told Noah two things. First, he was going to get his million dollars. We know that this is true because if God says it, that's it (Heb.6:18, Isa.45:23 & Ps.145 :13 - for a more detailed discussion of the integrity of God's Word, see Chapter 6 of our book Needful Things. The second thing Noah should have been aware of is: an extended period of time may transpire between the time of God's promise and its physical manifestation. It is this time span and it's purpose which we will look at in this chapter
In regards to any possible span of time which may elapse between God's promise and its manifestation, take a look at Ps.135:14 wherein a very encouraging statement is made, "For the Lord will vindicate His people...". Knowing this to be the case - read and reflect upon what Isaiah says in Isa.50:7-8. "Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near...". Isaiah knew full well the truth expressed by the Pharisee Gamaliel as recorded in Acts 5:38-39, "For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." God called Isaiah by saying, "Whom shall I send?..." Isaiah answered eagerly, "Here I am. Send me." (Isa.6:8-9) Since he knew his purpose was from and of God, he put his nose to the grindstone, and would not be dissuaded. So also should we, when called of God, or when acting on His Word, remember that God will vindicate those who stand upon that which has been clearly shown and confirmed to them.
We must act upon that which is revealed unto us, knowing that at some point it will come to pass. But when! The answer to that question is very simple; yet, at times it is ohhh so hard to deal with. Part of the answer is found in II Pe.3:9 wherein we are shown that in regards to the timing of God's promise we must understand that, "the Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness." God tells us that when the time is right, He will act quickly to bring about that which He has said (Isa.60:22).
Eccl.3:1 tells us that there is a time for everything under heaven. This is also true regarding the physical manifestation of God's promises to us. Hab.2:3 summarizes this by saying, "For the revelation waits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. THOUGH IT LINGER, wait for it; it will clearly come and will not delay." (emphasis added) When you have asked in faith believing, confessed your sins unto God, and asked Him to show you if there is anything which you have done, or are now doing to prevent the manifestation from taking place, and get nothing in response, then you may very well be in the position of having to set your face like flint and not waiver. Eph.6:13 describes it by saying "...after you have done everything, ... stand."
Look at what Joseph told Pharaoh in Gen.41:32 after Pharaoh had explained both of his dreams. "The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, AND GOD WILL DO IT SOON." (emphasis added) Now turn back to Gen.37:5-11 and notice that Joseph also had two dreams. First we see that the sheaves of wheat his family had harvested bowed down to the one he had cut, and then we see the sun, moon, and stars bowing to him. Again, two dreams. Therefore, according to Gen.41:32 we can assume that the matter has been firmly decided by God and that it would happen soon. When did this bowing in fact take place?
The first time we see it is in Gen.42:16. How much time transpired between the dream as shown in Gen.37:5-11 and the physical manifestation of Gen. 42:16? According to Gen.37:1 Joseph was about 17 at the time of his dream. In Gen.41:46 we see that he was 30 when he became prime minister of Egypt. There were then 7 years of abundance as shown in Pharaoh's dream (Gen.41:29&53), and there may have been an additional two years of famine before the bowing (Gen.45:6). That means that Joseph was about 39 years old at the time the prophesied homage occurred. Therefore, there were 22 years between the dream and its fulfillment.
However, we must remember that the word 'soon' may very well have a different meaning for God then it does for us. In addition to the span of time itself, look at what transpired in Joseph's life during the first 13 years after his dream. He was thrown in-to a pit and sold as a slave (Gen.37:22-28). He was also put in prison (Gen.39:20) and then forgotten for a two year period by the very man whose dream he had interpreted - the Pharaoh's cup-bearer (Gen.41:1&9). Yet Joseph was vindicated! When referring to Joseph, David says in Ps.105:8 "They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the Word of the Lord proved him true."
Look at the call on his life and the promise God gave to Jeremiah, as recorded in Jer.1:5&8. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart ... do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you, declares the Lord." God told Jeremiah not to be afraid of those to whom he was sent. We also are to walk fearlessly (Prov.29:25 & Ro.8:15 - for a more detailed discussion of this review Chapter 2.)
Another prophet God raised up at the same time as Jeremiah was Uriah. He prophesied the same things as did Jeremiah (Jer.26:20). However, during times of trouble Uriah fled in fear, and was eventually put to death (Jer.26:21-23). During this same period Jeremiah was obedient to God's call. That call included the promise to rescue him (Jer.40:4). Nevertheless, from the time of his call until that final rescue, he was beaten, imprisoned (Jer.37:15), and thrown into a muddy cistern (Jer.38:6).
Another example of a variance between promise and manifestation can be found in a study of David's life. According to I Sam.16:1, Saul had been rejected by God as king. Shortly thereafter the shepherd boy David was anointed by Samuel (I Sam.16:1&13). For purposes of this discussion I will assume that David was not much older than 15 at the time of his anointing. (We are not told his exact age, and for purposes of this discussion the exactness is not all that important.) In II Sam.5:4 we see that the manifestation of this anointing comes about in part when David is crowned king of Judah at age 30, and was fulfilled in total 7 years later when he became king over a united Israel.
Again, almost 22 years transpired from promise to fulfillment. During that time look at what happened to David. On at least two occasions Saul tried to kill him by impaling him with a spear (I Sam.18:10-11 & 10:9-10). David pretended to be insane, even going so far as to allow saliva to run down his beard (I Sam.21:10-15). He hid out in the cave of Adullam (I Sam.22:1), and saw his whole family uprooted (I Sam.22:3). Furthermore, he was forced to live in the desert (I Sam.23:14), and suffered the loss of his dearest and closest friend, Johnathan (I Sam.1:4). As a side bar, it should be noted in regards to Jonathan that he chose to stay with Saul even when he knew that the anointing had passed from Saul to David (I Sam.23:17). Had he gone with David into the wilderness, he most likely would not have died. The point is, this was a tremendous personal loss for David. The road from promise to manifestation was long and sometimes bitter.
Some would say, "Yes, but we are under a new covenant. We walk by faith. Things get done instantly; we simply believe God for it now." In part that is true. We believe that in this time of the end, God is working quickly; however, some period of time may well transpire between promise and manifestation, even if it is not 22 years. How old was Jesus when Scripture first recorded His awareness of the task set before Him? He was 12 (KJV Lk.2:41 &49). Of course He was God and knew before the foundations of the earth what His task was to be, but I wish to make a point about timing.
Jesus did His Father's will (John 6:38). He did only that which His Father commanded (John 14:31). He healed the sick (Matt.9:35-36), raised the dead (Lk.7:14-15), and directed others to do the same (Matt.10:8). However, He did all this only after age 30 (Lk.3:33 & John 2:11). Since we know that God's will does not change (Mal.3:6 & Ja.1:17), and that Jesus and the Father are one (John 10:30), God must have been desirous of healing before then. How many coffins did Jesus help Joseph construct between the ages of 12 and 30? How many times did Jesus see someone sick before He was 30 and longed to reach out, but did not, knowing that it was not yet time for the manifestation?
This must have caused Him anguish. We know Jesus suffered (Heb.2:18), and it was this suffering that "made Him perfect" (Heb.2:19 & 5:8-9). Now, there is no question that Jesus was without sin (II Cor.5:21 & Heb.4:15); yet, this process of being tempted and overcoming served the purpose of enabling Him to help us (Heb.2:18). Also, like Jeremiah, He learned obedience to the Father as a result of this suffering (Heb.5:8). During this period from age 12 to 30 there is no reason to believe that Jesus was not tempted. Satan knew who He was; don't forget, he tried to kill Jesus as a child (Matt.2:13). Nor should we forget that like us, Jesus suffered when He was tempted. Now, if this period between promise, or knowledge of purpose, and manifestation was used for Jesus' benefit, maybe these times between promise and manifestation were also useful for Joseph, Jeremiah, and David.
Turn to Ps.66:10 and see what David recognized as the purpose for his experience. "For You O God, TESTED US; YOU REFINED US LIKE SILVER. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us to a place of abundance." (emphasis added) That time did have a purpose. David was refined and purified, He was changed from a shepherd boy into a king. Saul did not go through this process and was soon rejected as king because he did not learn obedience (I Sam. 10:1&24 and 15:19&26).
Mal.3:2 tells us that God sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. Once the impurities are removed from the silver, the vessel is useful to the silversmith (Prov.25:4). That verse in Mal.3:2 specifically refers to the refinement of Old Covenant Levites. Remember though, we are now priests under the New covenant (I Pe.2:9), and while we have been purified by the blood of Jesus (Heb.10:14) there is still a purification of soul and body that is to be completed (II Tim.2:20-21 - see Chapter 5 in The Last Enemy for a more detailed discussion of this topic.)
Refinement is not merely an Old Covenant concept. God told Paul, "Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome." (Acts 23:11). Paul was also told, "I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles." (Acts 26:17). Now carefully note that Paul was not given a first class boat ticket to Rome. More then two years passed from promise to manifestation (Acts 24:27). Before Paul met the brothers at the Forum of Appius (Acts 28:15), he was imprisoned and chained (Acts 26:29), shipwrecked (Acts 27:41), and bitten by a viper (Acts 28:3).
Paul was refined. How? He was sick (Gal.4:13), imprisoned Acts (16:25), whipped, stoned, shipwrecked (II Cor.11:25-28), and was hindered by Satan "again and again" (I Thes.2:18). According to Phil.1:19 Paul knew that "... what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance." He knew that these things happened "... that we might not rely upon ourselves but on God." (II Cor.1:9) Indeed, he knew that "... the testing of your faith develops perseverance," and that "perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete." (Ja.1:3-4) Peter also knew that trials and tribulations come "so that your faith, of greater worth than gold ... may prove genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (I Pe.1:7 - for a more detailed discussion of perseverance review Chapter 1)
The point is, Paul was under the New Covenant, and his deliverance was not always instant. However, he did stand. In Phil.4:12 we are shown an important concept. "I learned the secret of being content in any and every situation." While this refining process was going on, Paul had the peace of God which transcends all under standing (Phil.4:7). He said that God meets all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus (Phil.4:19), and this was after stating that there were times when he had been hungry and had been living in want (Phil.4:12). He had learned to give thanks in all circumstances (I Thes.5:16). He knew that all things work for the good of those who love God, even those things which have the effect of purifying (Ro.8:28). While he was content in all circumstances, he was not resigned to the permanency of those things which Satan had used to attack him.
Return for a moment to our brief study of David, and notice something of the progression that took place during this time of refining. While in the cave of Adullam his army began to form. I Sam.22:2 shows us who was in that army. "All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader." This motley crew of 400 men formed the nucleus of the army of the anointed king of God's chosen people. However, as the refining process continued, the army grew to 600 (I Sam.27:2). We are then shown in II Sam.3:1 that as time went by David grew stronger and stronger. "Day after day men came to help David until he had a great and mighty army" (I Chron.12:22). Mighty indeed! By then it had grown to over 348,000 men (I Chron.12:23-27)
David grew during this time in personal maturity as well as military strength. We learn to deal with situations in a more mature way as we progress in the Lord. In Jer.12:5 we are shown why it is necessary to go through this process. There God asks us "if you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?" God will guide in this process. As the Israelites left Egypt they were fully armed for battle; yet, He directed them so that they would not run into warfare for they were not yet able to deal with that (Ex. 13:17-18). He did not want them defeated. Likewise, He will guide us, not allowing more to come against us then we are equipped to handle. But we must go through this process of purification and growth.
The timing was completed. Joseph, Jeremiah, David & Paul walked according to the principle set forth in Heb.10:36. "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God you will receive what he has promised." If you are still in your time of purification - rejoice as David did during his.
I will extol the Lord at all times; His praisewill always be on my lips. My soul will boastin the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame" (Ps.34:1-5)
It is interesting to note that David wrote this Psalm during the time of his feigned insanity. Truly those who take that walk along the path of purification will be vindicated.
It is important to realize that our journey down the road to refinement may not hasten the physical manifestation of some promise which God has made to us. Whereas, our failure to make that journey could very well prevent that manifestation from coming about, or delay it indefinitely until we walk that path. Heb.10: 38-39 cautions us ".. if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed"
Remember, the physical manifestation of some particular promise of God in your life is also part of God's overall plan for the world. There may very well be some portion of that plan He wants to fall into place elsewhere before yours comes out. This does not mean that yours will come about too late to help you, for we have already seen that God is never late (II Pe.3:9). But it does mean that your manifestation awaits its appointed time (Hab.2:3). Therefore, after you know that you have done all - stand firm and wait upon the Lord.
"The Lord is good to them that wait for Him (KJV Lam.3:25). Returning to David for a moment, we see that he understood this principle, for he says in Ps. 40:1-3:
"I wait patiently for the Lord; He turned tome and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."
Your witness may very well be your stand. Yet, do not fear, for you will not have to stand longer than the appointed time if you do not shrink back. You will be vindicated. "May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy ... may they always say, 'The Lord be exalted'." (Ps.35:27)