THE BLESSING OF DELAY

Somebody said, “God’s delay is not God’s denial.” We are a generation that has everything around us all in the fast mode. Most of us do not want to be delayed in any way shape or form. As a matter of fact, we are always in a hurry.

Looking at some bible illustrations, we will notice that all of them took time before they were fulfilled. Although God told Noah that there will be a flood yet he gave 120 years before it happened; Moses took on the role of being Israel’s deliverer only after 80 years; Caleb, one of the member of the 12 spies sent out to Canaan achieved his share of the land only after 45 years; Joseph was given a dream when he was young that he will be somebody and became the Prime Minister of Egypt after 17 years. I could go on and on and there is one common aspect from these examples – time factor. Most importantly, the coming of Jesus was also dependent upon this very important factor of time as recorded in Galatians 4:4, “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son…” (NIV)

You might say would that apply today? Yes! You see God is in the habit of making sure that His plan will be fulfilled according to His timetable not ours. One of these examples is found in Exodus 13:17-18, “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.” (NIV)

Actually, there were two ways from Egypt to Canaan. One was a short cut from the north of Egypt to the south of Canaan, perhaps about four or five days' journey; the other was much further about, through the wilderness, and that was the way in which God chose to lead his people Israel. Why did God choose the longer route instead of the shorter one? He has His reasons and let me give you some of them,(1) The Israelites were to be humbled and proved in the wilderness; (2) Because they were not as yet fit for war. Remember their spirits were broken with slavery; it was not easy for them to turn their hands of a sudden from the trowel to the sword after 430 years.

What could we learn from this scenario more than 4,000 years ago? First, God's way is always the right way, though it seems not evident at the moment. Secondly, God proportions his people's trials to their strength (1 Corinthians 10:13). Lastly, judge nothing before the time. Habakkuk 2:3 declares, “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

Delay is never part of God’s vocabulary but man’s alone; God does not delay anything that pertains to His plan and purposes for humanity but prepares what He will provide in the most excellent way. He will package it not just for attractiveness sake but will make sure it is complete and He will make sure that when you receive it, you will be amazed because it will be more than you expected. It is exactly what the Scriptures declare that “No eye has seen no ear has heard what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

When you are going a lengthy road in life, remember that the Lord leads us to receive the best not the least. Just walk with him and he will see you through. Keep your focus on what is ahead not what you see along the way. Never allow anything or anyone to distract you from receiving God’s best or you will miss it. Many did but you must not. Therefore, keep your cool at all times.

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