When God’s Time Comes

“He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war.   He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies.” Isaiah 42:13

In the kingdom and economy of God, there is first and foremost His purpose revealed, according to His design, and accomplished by His authority and power for His unique and sole glory.  There is also the issue of His time.  Solomon wrote of this matter of time in his book Ecclesiastes, chapter 3: “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” (v.1) The work of God, according to His timing is described by Solomon as being “…beautiful in its time.” (v.11) With regard to His work in men, Solomon goes on to write: “And He (God) has put eternity in their hearts.” Time, though it has limits, is also eternal in its effects.  That which is most essential for man who walks this earth is, not only that he has been created and formed “…for such a time as this,” but that only by walking with God, abiding in Christ by the Spirit, can and will the purposes for his life be fulfilled.  The role and purpose of man is not to be the “creator” of that which God has already done, but to board God’s train, going in His direction, to love and serve Him by His power.  In that place of conformity with the will and purpose of God will God’s glory be revealed most manifestly in and through the life.  But what about God, and His sovereign will being  accomplished in His time? Only God knows when He will work specifically in His time, unless He reveals it to His servants.  On several occasions Jesus was pressured, either by His relatives, or the crowds, to go somewhere, or to do something that was not in God’s timing but would later be accomplished. His relatives wanted Him to go up a feast in Jerusalem to reveal Himself, and His works.  The Lord told them that it was not His time, and that was true. But He later went up.  Another time, the crowds wanted to come and make Him king, but it was not the time, for they had not the knowledge of what they were asking, nor the knowledge of the will of God.  And yet, there would come a moment in time, when in the Garden of Gethsemane, He knew He must drink that bitter cup of suffering and sorrow for mankind, that sinful man could be truly saved.  Though the suffering and sacrifice of that time was only endured and overcome by the power of the Spirit, Christ secured forever a perfect salvation for all men, specifically for those who would believe in Him.

In the Old Testament, Scripture reveals to us by the writings of the prophets how God chose His time to accomplish His will for His glory.  This is always in accordance with His wisdom, and not that of man.  There was one instance, during the ministry of Zechariah that “the Angel of the Lord” in heaven, asked the Lord, “O Lord of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years? (1:12) The Lord would answer, ” I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal.” (v.14) He then declared: “I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy: My house shall be built in it.” (v.16) God’s time had come for Him to move, to work, and show forth His glory in Israel, in Jerusalem where there had been desolation for seventy years. This He would accomplish from that moment on.

In speaking to Israel of a new beginning, new things being declared to them, He would say, “…before they spring forth I tell you of them.” (42:9) It is then that the Lord adds: “The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war.” (v.13) When God’s time comes, in response to prayer, He will reveal His power.

Dear Father, Reveal Thy zeal today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.