The Appointed Time: When it’s God’s Will but Hasn’t Arrived Yet
Consider waiting to be a blessing, because God has blessed and empowered you to get this far!
exodus 23:14-16 niv
“Three times a year you are to celebrate a festival to me. “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt. “No one is to appear before me empty-handed. “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field. “Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.”
The book of Exodus is probably most famous for chronicling the life of the Israelites, a stubborn group of the people…and their leader, Moses, whose life was far from typical! Interestingly enough, the “appointed time” referenced in this scripture doesn’t necessarily point to a future time, but to a past time.
The month of Aviv is when God delivered the Israelites from the hands of Egyptian ruler, Pharaoh via miracles and plagues, Exodus 6-14. In short, Pharaoh experienced so much peril, death and distress from keeping the Israelites that he had to let them go. However, after a time, Pharaoh changed his mind, pursuing the Israelites and God parted the sea for the Israelites to pass and then closed it, causing Pharaoh and all his men to die.
It’s a pretty incredible story but it doesn’t stop there! In the wilderness, God provided, a guide via a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13), water (Exodus 15 & 17) and manna & quail (Exodus 16). He even paid a visit to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19) and gave them the ten commandments for righteous living plus other ordinances (Exodus 20-22).
The lesson here is in remembering how God has blessed us to be at a place where we are able to wait. Waiting on a job promotion? Think about how God blessed you to get the job. Waiting on a child to find their way? Think on how he/she is a gift from God. Waiting on provision for college education? Consider how being accepted into that university was a work of God. Waiting on God to make a way out of this pandemic? Ponder how having life and breathe is a commodity that many do not have.
We may not (or may!) have leavened bread in our homes, but we can come with full hands…full of praise, full of appreciation and full of expectation!
Until Weekend Wellness,
