But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
Galatians 4:4-5 NIV
Waiting can be challenging. The culture I am in is, more and more, one that promotes instant gratification—fast food, drive-thru banking, instant credit, express service, speed dating, and so on. We are impatient and don’t like waiting.
But God is not like us. He is willing to wait until the time is right. When the time was right:
- He called Abraham to follow him.
- He called Moses to lead his people out of Egypt.
- He sent Israel off into exile and then brought them back.
- He sent his Son to us on that first Christmas. A Son born under the same conditions as each of us.
- Jesus went to the cross to redeem us from the law, from the empty way of life we had (1 Pet. 1:18), and to make us sons of God.
- And, when the time is right, Jesus will return for his faithful followers.
I don’t know why God chose the time he did for each step of redemption’s story. I have a limited view of history. And even less so concerning the future. But God is not limited in either his knowledge or his ability to accomplish his purpose in creation.
In my impatience, I often want him to act now. But, just maybe, I should trust him to act in his own time. He knows what he is doing, so my best course of action is to come alongside him and let him lead—trusting him to do what is best and to act when the time is right.
