ICS Daily Devotions
Waiting For God’s Timing
Rom 4:19-22 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a
hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through
unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had
promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
God promised to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. But when the promise was first given in Genesis 12, Abraham and his wife Sarah did not have any children. God continued to restate His promise to Abraham through the years. He waited patiently, except for one occasion when he heeded to his wife’s suggestion and had a child with Sarah’s handmaid Hagar. The son’s name was Ishmael. But this was not the son God intended for Abraham. It shows that no human is perfect. Fortunately, God is more faithful than people so He does not cancel His promise just because of our failures! He looks at our heart and attitudes. So it is important to just keep on. Finally when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 years old, God gave them their son Isaac.
Heb 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
The important thing with faith is that it is not only “here and now, but also “there and later.” Patience is a fruit of the Spirit and operates in the framework of faith and God’s promises.
Another great story of divine patience is Joseph. As a lad, he knew that God anointed him to interpret dreams, do great things for God, and become a leader. But after the tension with his brothers, they threw him into a pit and eventually sold him as a slave. Though he did not understand all that was happening, he trusted God to work out His plan with him in God’s time. Joseph patiently worked faithfully in each situation he was in, including prison. He waited for God to fulfill His promise that Joseph would be a leader of his people. He had to be patient as he believed God, but probably wondered why he was sitting in a prison cell. In human terms, the distance between prison and leadership is nearly impossible to bridge. Similarly like Abraham, once his patience was shaken after he interpreted a dream for the king’s butler who happened to be his fellow-prisoner for a while. Joseph said to him:
Gen 40:13-14 Now within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner, when you were his butler. But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house.
Joseph wanted to get out of the prison but it was not God’s timing yet. The butler forgot about Joseph and he spent additional two years in prison. Joseph could have complained and be discouraged that God had forgotten him. But God never comes too late! And His solution surpasses all the other solutions in His timing.
There was another dream given not only to a butler-like person but to the pharaoh himself. The butler nearby suddenly recalled the incident with Joseph and told pharaoh. Joseph was taken out of the prison and able to interpret the dream. Through the pharaoh, God did eventually lift Joseph up to great power and responsibility. Not only was he a leader of his people, but he ruled over the people of Egypt, too. Patience was needed to allow God to accomplish His purposes in the life of Joseph and his family. Joseph was not perfect but he had attitude and waited faithfully until the plan of God with his life was accomplished. God’s glory as a result of incidents in our lives is much greater if we allow for His timing. To interpret the butler’s dream is a little glory but to interpret the pharaoh’s dream is a great glory. God’s timing makes a real spiritual impact!
Series: The Power of Patience
