At the Appointed Time

Text: Gen 29:21-26, Exo 12:31-32, Ecc 3:1-8

The appointed time is the time chosen or ordained by God to make something(s) happen.

The Bible says in Ecc 3:1, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven". God has timing for everything, there is time to cast away and time to gather, time to mourn and time to dance, time to plant and time to harvest, time to marry and time to reproduce, time for winter and time for summer. As flesh, you want to achieve your desired goals as quickly as possible, always in a hurry. You want answers to your prayers as quickly as possible. But our God is a God of order and He has his own timing. Hence Ecc 3:1 reminds you that there is a time to every purpose.

One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit which a christian must exhibit is longsuffering or perseverance. That is learning to wait patiently on God, wait for the appointed time for things to happen.

What are you waiting on the Lord for? Do you think He is not listening or hearing your request? That thing will surely come in Jesus name. Is it promotion? Fruit of the womb? Life partner? Admission to tertiary institution? Job? Healing? VISA to other country? Breakthrough? Freedom from bondage? Building a property? Surely, it will come. God is saying persevere a little bit - wait patiently on Him.

In Gen 29:21-26, Jacob had to serve Laban for another seven years to be able to have Rachel as wife. Because Rachel was his heart desire, he served another seven years to have her. Have you waited for so long? Jacob did so for seven years. For how long have you been waiting? Surely, you will get it at the appointed time.

In Exo 12:31-32,  "Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron by night, and said rise up, and go forth from among my people both you and the children of Israel, and go serve the Lord as you have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone and bless me also".

At the appointed time, God allowed Pharaoh's strength to fade away and the Israelites who had been in bondage for about four hundred years got freedom. Are you in bondage? Are you oppressed? The Lord that delivered the Israelites from king Pharaoh will surely deliver you in Jesus name. Just be patient and wait on Him. The same Pharaoh who put them under bondage asked them to bless him after he had released them meaning it was the appointed time for the Israelites to get freedom. Do not be frustrated by any event. You shall be set free in Jesus name.

In Matt 3:16-18, the Bible tells us that the heaven that was closed for several years opened on the day Jesus got baptised by John the Baptist. Perhaps God was waiting for His son to be baptised before he could open the heavens and send His word. In Matt 3:17, "And lo a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased". For you to get that thing that you desire, God may just be waiting for an event to preceed it. Why don't you persevere, wait a little longer. It shall surely come, you will surely have it. Note that you can not help God to do what he alone can do. He does not want anybody to share His glory with Him.

Sarai in Gen 16:1 thought she could help God by getting Abram a child, she advised Abram to go into Hagar, her handmaid and Abram went into Hagar and the product was Ishmael. The outcome of this was not pleasant for Sarai and even the prophecy concerning the product in Gen 16:12 was that Ishmael would be a wild man and his hand will be against every man.

Whatever you are expecting God to do for you, persevere and at His own appointed time He will do it. Do you know that when a fruit matures naturally on a tree, it drops effortlessly. Every perfect gift comes from God and He does not add sorrow to it.

Highlights

• There is time for everything
  
• God has its own timing
  
• Wait patiently on the Lord for whatever you need or want
  
• You can not help God to do what he alone can do
  
• He does not add sorrow to whatever He gives you
  

Prayer

Lord, give me the grace to be able to wait on you. All that I need your hand hath provided, grant me the spirit of longsuffering and perseverance to be able to wait and receive my needs in Jesus name I pray. AMEN