When, God?

In my last entry, we looked at why Sarah only conceived 25 years after God gave His covenant to Abraham.

But while pondering the answer, I also realized that I couldn't recall if a time is mentioned in the scripture. When God gave Abraham the covenant, did God tell him when it will be? 

Can you imagine being Abraham and hearing God said this to you - “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” and “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them. So shall your descendants be.” (Gen 15:4-5)

If I were Abraham, of course, I would be overjoyed upon hearing the promise. Yet at the same time, I would also want to know when. 

God, praise You for the promise! But erm, when ah, God? When will the 'one who come from my own body' come? 

I don't know about you, but I would surely love to know the "when" in addition to the "what". 😁

So, as I read through the accounts carefully, I paid attention to any mention of time. 

And these are what is recorded in the Scripture. (Please note that I'm using the NKJV, so other translations may differ slightly in wording.)

• When God first spoke to Abraham that He will make him a great nation, He did not mention a time. (Gen 12)
• God appeared and reaffirmed the covenant a few more times to Abraham after that, but again, did not mention when. (Gen 13:14-17, Gen 15)
• Only when God reestablished the covenant with Abraham when he was 99 years old, changing Abram's name to Abraham and Sarai's name to Sarah, did God mention 'this set time next year' and even naming the child Isaac. (Gen 17:21) 
• At the terebinth tree, when the 3 angels visited Abraham, He said “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son. (Gen 18:10)” and "Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. (Gen 18:14)”. 

In the NLT and ESV, it is 'at this time next year'. 

So, we see that God first gave the details (the time and name) when Abraham was 99 years old. And after He had revealed the time, it was referred to as 'the appointed time, according to the time of life'. 

Do note when God spelled out the details, though. 

It was after Abraham fell on his face and laughed in himself, and asked that 'Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!' (Gen 17:18). 

It was as though God finally had to disclose more information to double (perhaps, triple) reaffirm Abraham on His promises. 

And guess what, after giving the details, God finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham (Gen 17:22). 

Have you ever noticed and wondered, of all the promises, prophecies or instructions that God gave in the Bible to His people, how many of them came with specific timing? 

Just take for instance, when God first instructed Noah to build the ark (Gen 6), God did not say when the flood will come. God next instructed him to come into the ark in Gen 7:1, telling him that 'after 7 more days, I will cause it to rain...' (Gen 7:4). Thereafter, again, God did not tell Noah when they will all come out from the ark. 

Of course, there are times when God was specific in the details. But there are also many other times where God did not reveal more. 

Many may say that, since God did not reveal when the promise will be fulfilled, Abraham and Sarah only conceived Isaac after that many years because they were being tested in their faith while waiting for the promise to come to pass. 

After God revealed that it will be 'this set time next year', Sarah did conceive and bear Isaac according to the time that God purposed. 

I guess there is no concrete way of knowing the ifs - If Sarah believed, would she conceive earlier? Or if God had said 'this set time next year' when Abraham was 85 years old, would Isaac be born at the said time? 

To discuss and debate over this would be futile and purposeless. 

For many of us (me included), often times, we know His promises, we just do not know when it will be fulfilled and are still waiting, for many different reasons. 

1. It could be due to unbelief, no matter how small it is. 

Jesus did tell us in Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 

Believe and you will have them. It doesn't say there will be a time gap in between the asking and receiving. 

2. It could be a trial where our faith is being tested. 

James 1:2-4 tells us to count it joy - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 

This is commonly taught - hold onto God's promises while waiting. After all, faith is the substance of things hoped, the evidence of things unseen (Heb 11:1). 

Or it could be any other reasons. 

I don't pretend to know the answer. I am merely reflecting on the age old question of 'when'. 

And it really is an age old question: "when, God?", isn't it? (Even the disciples asked Jesus, 'tell us, when will be these things be?'.)

We are all fascinated with 'when'. 

Source: Internet

Admit it, now is better than later. And later is better than never, right? And knowing when is better than not knowing.😜

 

All this aside, let's go back to Sarah's story. Although she waited 25 years (mostly in unbelief), she did become a mother of nations, as God has spoken. God's Words were not thwarted, although it was possibly delayed. 

What can I reflect from this, I asked myself. 

Simply that it is not my place to question nor to demand to know when, but, it is my responsibility (and my privilege) to believe to see it come to pass. 

The process is straight forward, dear ones in Christ. 

1. Is there something you are asking God for?
2. Is it something that God has promised? (Whether from the written Word or from a spoken Word from God)
3. If the answer to both questions is "yes", then you need only believe (just like Sarah judging God faithful) and receive.

Whether we will receive it now (Hallelujah!) or at a later time (still Hallelujah!), one thing is needed - believe and receive in faith.