GOD'S SOVEREIGN TIMING IS ALWAYS RIGHT
In today’s One Year Bible reading in John 7:1-30, one concept caught my eye. It appears in verses 6, 8, and 30: Jesus’ time had not yet come.
In verses 6 and 8, Jesus’ brothers were urging Him to attend the annual Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus objected, explaining, “My time has not yet come.” Later, however, Jesus attended the Feast. When He taught in the Temple, some Jewish leaders sought to arrest Him, but verse 30 explains that no one laid a hand on Him, because His time had not yet come.
This isn’t the first time the concept that Jesus’ time had not yet come appears. John 2 records the events of the wedding that Jesus attended in Cana, when the supply of wine ran out. When Jesus’ mother informed Him of the situation, He replied that His time has not yet come. (However, He did meet the need in a miraculous way, but did so discreetly.)
I believe the same concept underlies Jesus’ commands following several of His miracles, when He told those present not to tell anyone about what He had just done. Jesus knew that the public response to such a report would interfere with His ability to carry out His mission. The time for His identity as the Messiah to be revealed widely would come later.
Jesus’ life and ministry were subject to God’s timetable. But so are ours. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us that everything that happens in this world does so at the time God chooses — there is a time for this, and a time for that. Verse 11 further assures us that God has set the right time for everything.
We’ve all heard stories of how people avoided injury or death because something prevented them from being at “the wrong place at the wrong time.” We may consider such circumstances as merely coincidences, but I believe that God’s sovereignty is at work in such situations. (Of course, God’s sovereignty is also at work when (seemingly) bad things do happen to people.)
In any case, our correct response to the situation, whether seemingly good or ill, must be based on God’s character. He is sovereign, good, holy, just, loving, all-knowing, all-powerful, and always present everywhere. Whatever He brings into our lives is designed for our good and His glory.
And His sovereign timing is always right.
In verses 6 and 8, Jesus’ brothers were urging Him to attend the annual Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus objected, explaining, “My time has not yet come.” Later, however, Jesus attended the Feast. When He taught in the Temple, some Jewish leaders sought to arrest Him, but verse 30 explains that no one laid a hand on Him, because His time had not yet come.
This isn’t the first time the concept that Jesus’ time had not yet come appears. John 2 records the events of the wedding that Jesus attended in Cana, when the supply of wine ran out. When Jesus’ mother informed Him of the situation, He replied that His time has not yet come. (However, He did meet the need in a miraculous way, but did so discreetly.)
I believe the same concept underlies Jesus’ commands following several of His miracles, when He told those present not to tell anyone about what He had just done. Jesus knew that the public response to such a report would interfere with His ability to carry out His mission. The time for His identity as the Messiah to be revealed widely would come later.
Jesus’ life and ministry were subject to God’s timetable. But so are ours. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us that everything that happens in this world does so at the time God chooses — there is a time for this, and a time for that. Verse 11 further assures us that God has set the right time for everything.
We’ve all heard stories of how people avoided injury or death because something prevented them from being at “the wrong place at the wrong time.” We may consider such circumstances as merely coincidences, but I believe that God’s sovereignty is at work in such situations. (Of course, God’s sovereignty is also at work when (seemingly) bad things do happen to people.)
In any case, our correct response to the situation, whether seemingly good or ill, must be based on God’s character. He is sovereign, good, holy, just, loving, all-knowing, all-powerful, and always present everywhere. Whatever He brings into our lives is designed for our good and His glory.
And His sovereign timing is always right.
by Darrel Eppler, Chairman of the Elder Board
Posted in Read Through the Bible
Recent
Archive
2024
January
A FRESH STARTPOSTURE OF FAITHHEAVENLY BODIESTHE BLESSINGS OF THE RIGHTEOUSI AM WILLINGGOD'S SOVEREIGNTY OVERRULES MAN'S DYSFUNCTIONJESUS IS LORD OF THE SABBATHLIVE OUT WELL THE TEACHINGS OF JESUSHOLD IT CLOSEOPEN MY EYESWHO DO PEOPLE SAY WE ARE?NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GODWHAT IS YOUR IDOL?GOD'S CHOOSING
February
March
2023
January
WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER?RESOLVING CONFLICT AND DEALING WITH EVILWHAT KIND OF FRUIT DO YOU HAVE?GOD IS PROUD OF HIS SONPEACE IS A FUNCTION OF FOCUSTHE HEALING POWER OF JESUSGOD CALLS YOU BY NAMESMOKE AND MIRRORSBE A LIGHTWISE WORDSEXODUSCHOOSING THE RIGHT PATHGOD SEES AND HEARSWHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM?WARNING AGAINST FOLLY
February
March
HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOUTHE PLACE OF COMFORT AND SAFETYIT'S THE LITTLE THINGSBE ALERTMY GOD IS NOT TOO SMALLWHEN TO SPEAK AND WHEN NOT TO SPEAKGOD IS GRACIOUS TO USKEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUTSTAND STRONG FOR YOUR FAITHOUR HOPEDO I DO WHAT THE LORD ASKS OF ME?DON'T BE A SCHEMERA TREASURE HUNTLISTEN AND FOLLOWWORDS OF COMFORT OR WARNINGTHE POSSESSOR OCCUPIES AND FILLS THE POSSESSEDUNDIVIDED LOYALTY TO GODONE CONCESSION STAND
April
OUR GOD IS HOLY AND JUSTA CAUSE FOR OBEDIENCETELL THE COMING GENERATIONTHE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOLSHINE YOUR FACE UPON USLISTEN UP!CHECK WITH GOD FIRST - HE KNOWS MORE THAN WE DOPSALM 86THAT IS ENOUGH SAIDDO YOU REMEMBER?TRANSITIONSSERVE ONE ANOTHERPROVERBS“Insignificant Does Not Equal Insignificant” (Judges 6)
May
JESUS IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!FINISHING WELLARE YOU THE TEACHER OF ISRAEL AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS?FORGETTING GOD IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTHREPENTANCE BRINGS MERCYGOD'S SOVEREIGN TIMING IS ALWAYS RIGHTWHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?A GODLY FATHERJESUS CARES FOR US - HE'S OUR SHEPHERDWHO DO YOU LISTEN TO?CARELESS SPEECHCONTINUE TO SERVE GODUNDIGNIFIED, HUMILIATED, AND GLORIFYING GOD!CLEAR PROMISES
No Comments