In God’s Time

Today's Verse

Genesis 30:22-23 (NKJV)

Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. And she conceived and bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach.”

Read: Genesis 30

Thoughts

Child-bearing is a big deal for many women. In the Middle East, infertility of the wife could be a ground for divorce. And if that happens, the infertile woman may lose her husband and security, and could end up being a servant or prostitute in order to survive. And we see this kind of desperation and uneasiness in Rachel’s actions, when she saw that her sister Leah keeps on bearing children while she remains barren. She sounded like putting up a fight with Jacob by her complaint in verse 1, and Jacob responded angrily, “Who do you think of me, like God who withholds you from giving birth?” (my paraphrase). And maybe probably, to appease Jacob’s anger, she gave her maid Bilhah to Jacob to bore a child for her. She followed the steps of grandma Sarah who gave her maid Hagar to Abraham for child-bearing.

Even then, with all the worries and attempts to remedy things in order to have a child, God already had plans long before. God – remembered, listened, and opened Rachel’s womb (verse 22). God was not forgetful that He “remembered”, but it is now God’s time to execute His plan. God’s timing never comes early or late – it is always the perfect timing for He is not bounded by time, for God is eternal – no beginning and no end!

We often miss out God’s best for us because we panic, we freak out, we lose track, we lose faith, we become impatient, and we end up doing the remedies of the flesh. Instead of seeking guidance from God through His word – to know whether God says “no”, “wait”, or “yes”. You may not hear God audibly, but His Spirit speaks within you that He gives you comfort and courage when it is time to go on. Many victories in battles were won, because of the character of waiting and patience. Many survivors of earthquakes and disasters were the ones who waited for help, those who freaked out and worried died. We too can win our battles in life when we wait upon the Lord, and be patient. God’s plan in your life does not change, wait while worshiping the Lord. Do not waste time worrying and complaining.

Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Prayer

Lord God Heavenly Father, give us the character of patience and waiting, replace our unbelief with faith, our worries with worship, and our complaints with comfort. In Jesus Name, Amen.


Gott ändert nie!
(God never changes! In German)