journey onWord with us

Words from childhood will sometimes drift to the forefront of my memory. One of my favorites is from a sermon …  “although He seems to linger long, He never comes too late”. I can’t tell you who gave the words, or when I heard them, but the impact has remained. And that truth has proved itself, over and over again … He never comes too late!

It can be preached, taught and eloquently counseled. But the reality is, that our definition of on time usually is in conflict with God’s perfect design for us. At least emotionally! I am so thankful to look back and see how He always shows up at the right time. Scripture gives us some great insight and examples of God showing up for the children of Israel.

Everyone knows the story of the Red Sea. Most people of faith can remember a time when God figuratively parted their Red Sea. But we often forget that at the end of the wilderness journey, God showed up again at the Jordan River.

Joshua 4:21-24
He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean? tell them, ‘Israel crossed Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”

At the beginning and the end of the journey from Egypt to Canaan, God showed up in a big way. And in between the two water partings, they were provided water and manna as needed. But the travelers were very much like us, easily dismayed and often weary on the way. We have the benefit of looking back and seeing the miraculous parting(s) of the water. The above passage says He did it so that “all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”

Knowing God is powerful. And remembering that He has parted the sea for you in the past is important.  But how is your faith today? As I personally view the Christian world, I see too many weary and frustrated travelers. You may be standing at the edge of a Red Sea or Jordan River right now.  Your theology is strong, but you find your faith wavering. From one struggler to another, I can assure you that God is still powerful and wants you to know His power again. Are you willing by faith to pray the words of Psalm 68:28?

Summon your power O God; show us your strength, O God, as you have done before.

Although at times He seems to linger long, He never comes too late. It may seem like He often waits until the very last moment, but He is God. He knows what He is doing in your life, and He will show up when He chooses.  And it will always be in His perfect timing, working things according to His purposes.

The children of Israel went across the Jordan on dry ground, because God showed up. What makes us think He won’t show up for us. With a yielded heart and fresh faith, look for the water to part!