Session 23

Timing is everything

From Exodus: A 34-Day Devotional

A plentiful harvest doesn’t happen by accident. A farmer spends considerable time fertilizing the soil, tilling, planting, and watering the seeds and plants. But perhaps the most important factor a farmer considers is timing. No matter how well he cares for his crops, if they are planted too late or too early, they will not thrive.

Timing matters. 

In Exodus 23:27-30, God explains that a good thing at the wrong time is no longer a good thing. God promised to drive out the Israelites’ enemies so they could take possession of the land. This was a good thing. However, God explained that they would have to settle the land gradually. If God cleared out their enemies all at once, the land would become a wasteland, filled with dangerous, wild animals. 

To the Israelites, the thought of waiting was discouraging. They had been wandering through the desert without a permanent home since God delivered them from slavery in Egypt. The Promised Land was so close, they could taste it. But, if they did not accept the gradual process of God driving out their enemies one-by-one, they would never be able to enjoy the land and thrive there for generations to come.

Just as the Israelites desired a permanent home immediately, we often want solutions from God immediately. We want the better job now. We want to be healed now. We want to be married or have children now.

But often our immediate solution is like planting crops in January. No matter how good our solution seems, if it is not the right timing, it will not benefit us in the long run. 

In Romans 8:28, the Bible teaches us that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him. This means that in the midst of our discontentment and impatience, we can trust God to work things out for our good, even when we don’t understand His timing.

Reflect:

• Why is it so hard to trust that God’s timing is better than yours?
• What is one issue you are facing today that you would like solved immediately? What can God teach you while you wait for His perfect timing?