Delay is Not the End
I am writing late at night, but since I have had these thoughts on my mind today, I wanted to share them. It seems as my days become more hectic, the weeks feel longer. Since there is much to do in my campaign for City Council that may be a good thing.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “When he [Moses] went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Exodus 2:13,14 ESV
As I was reading the story of Moses, I took note of Moses’ actions trying to exert leadership as a Prince of Egypt. His knowledge of heritage is displayed when he rescues a “fellow” Hebrew from an abusive Egyptian by killing the assailant and hiding him in the sand. The next day, he then tried to be a peace maker between two Hebrews fighting with each other. When he was rebuffed and the killing of the Egyptian by Moses became known he fled.
It would be 40 years before Moses would return to Egypt and assume a leadership role over the Hebrew people. The role he sought as a young man was a forgotten memory. His life seemed to be relegated to that of a lonely and isolated shepherd. But the Lord miraculously appears to Moses in the wilderness and calls him to a position of authority and leadership. “Who made Moses, prince and judge over God’s people?” God did! But He did so in His way and in His timing.
Consider the similarity with Joseph. A young man with big dreams. Dreams of being a ruler. Dreams of people, like his brothers, bowing down to him. When Joseph became a slave and then placed in prison; those dreams seemed to be as hopeless as Joseph’s condition.
However, in God’s time and in God’s way, Joseph was elevated to a position of authority. We read in the account of his story, ‘Since Joseph was governor of all Egypt and in charge of selling grain to all the people, it was to him that his brothers came. When they arrived, they bowed before him with their faces to the ground.…Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him. And he remembered the dreams he’d had about them many years before…” (Genesis 42:6,8-9 NLT)
The lost dream, the forgotten dream was fulfilled.
How often in our life do we experience plans and “dreams” that seem to be dashed in an untimely manner? When we have the assurance that the Lord is guiding and directing our life, when our dreams seem to be “dead in the water” they can be resurrected and find new life and fulfillment. For Moses it was 40 years. For Joseph it was fewer years. It is not a matter of our time, but God’s time that counts.
We can observe that for both Moses and Joseph that a delay was not a dead end. As a matter of fact, even though the years may pass, the way God orchestrates the affairs of life, result in a far greater impact than what would take place through human initiative and plans.
Prayer to today… Lord, in the midst of disappointment and failed dreams, allow our hearts to remain true to You, knowing that our lives are in Your hands. That which is to come about will come about in Your way and in Your time; and it will be for our good and the good of others.