I was driving home from church last night when I was forced to make a detour, which took me through some unfamiliar streets. A driver ahead of me was very hesitant, and was taking some time to navigate the route. I was behind the person and I was annoyed as I wondered what was leading to so much hesitancy on their part. Eventually, I was able to safely get ahead of this person. As I drove along, I kept repeating in my mind: “There is no ideal time; there is no ideal set of circumstances! You just have to move!” Then I heard the Holy Spirit tell me that there was a difference between the ideal time and the set time of God. You see the set time of God, is never the ideal time in our eyes. I was ecstatic! Another article topic! Hallelujah to Jesus!
His Set Time: Biblical Examples
I got home and hurried to write down this topic. But then, I was wondering: “Well, what’s the biblical context, Lord?” He then drew my attention to three distinct persons in the Bible: Abraham, Ruth and David. In each case, the individual was called by God to do the unusual, at a time and with circumstances that were not ideal … but it was the set time of God. What was the result of their obedience to God and them moving in His set time? They experienced divine favour, blessings, restoration, growth and victory. Let’s consider the lessons that we can glean from each case.
Abraham
Scriptures: Genesis 11:26-32; Genesis 12:1-8.
Abraham (or Abram) 1 was the eldest son of his father Terah, who eventually died. Now, the ideal thing is for the eldest son to become the new head of his family and control his late father’s possessions. It just makes sense – your father dies, you’re the eldest, so you assume control.
However what did God then say to Abraham? God tells Abraham to leave his country, leave his kindred, leave his father’s house; leave all that’s familiar and that is now due to him! What? And then get this: he doesn’t even know where he’s going! What Lord? Give up the certain “blessings”, for this unseen land and the promise that you’re going to bless me there? Another kicker was that Abraham’s lineage wasn’t even established as yet! He and his wife Sarah2 did not have a child, so which nation was God going to make out of them? Abraham had to be feeling so much pressure at this point.
However Abraham was obedient. He left the familiar comfort of his homeland and people to sojourn in an unknown land, all based on God’s promise of blessings and the establishment of a divine dynasty from his lineage. Abraham was faithful, and God rewarded his faithfulness. Abraham had Isaac, who then had Jacob, and from Jacob (later called Israel) came the promised dynasty of the children of Israel. Later the children of Israel would possess Canaan, the land promised to Abraham and his seed, and establish this great nation.
What’s Your Faith Step?
What is Jesus calling you to do in this season? What great faith step are you being asked to make? I just want you to know that although the circumstances and timing are not ideal to you, all of these things don’t matter. This is the set time of God and when you move in His set time, you experience His favour, provision, strength and increase. On the other side of your obedience awaits a host of people (relatives and non-relatives) who will also reap the overflow of blessings from your surrendered faith walk. Step out in complete faith: It’s not all about you, there’s a nation to be established for the glory of Christ.
Ruth
Scriptures: Ruth 1:8-22; Ruth 3:1-18; Ruth 4:13-22.
It’s interesting that Ruth was not born an Israelite; in fact she was a Moabitess who married an Israelite. However her story changed from joy to sorrow, great loss and despair; to a leap of faith fuelled by undying devotion; walking in obedience and faith; to restoration and divine increase. I love the book of Ruth and although I only extracted certain scriptures, I recommend that you read all four chapters.
It’s sad that Ruth lost her husband at a young age, and that she was childless. However it makes no sense for her to refuse to go back home – Naomi her mother-in-law didn’t have any more sons and her family could have arranged another marriage for her. That timing and those circumstances shouted at Ruth: “Go back to your people!” However she was relentless in her devotion to a bitter, hurting and desolate Naomi. Ruth went with Naomi to Bethlehem, a land that she had never seen, to a people and culture she had never experienced.
They get to Bethlehem and surprise! Life is hard! In those days, it was really difficult for widows who had no male protectors and providers. However Ruth didn’t curl up and die of fright and despair, she went to work! She didn’t get work as a labourer, but she gleaned behind the labourers in the field for their survival. Her sacrificial love and devotion drew the attention and favour of Boaz.
The Divine Turn-Around
After the end of the harvest, there was a big celebration at the threshing floor. In order for Ruth to experience full restoration and increase, she had to obey Naomi’s instructions. She washed, anointed and dressed herself, and she went to the threshing floor. She waited on the set time: the time when Boaz would have no distractions, when he would be able to hear her out and make an informed decision. Ruth asked Boaz to be her kinsman redeemer, he was humbled and pleased by this request, and he did what she asked. The end result is that Boaz married Ruth, she now had protection and provision and she became a mother to their son called Obed. Naomi experienced this restoration as well, as she was able to nurse this baby, which gave her renewed purpose.
You may feel as though life has not been kind to you, and you want to give up. The last thing on your mind is anything to do with faith – you’re just trying to survive. However your step of faith, your devotion and your hard work will bring your just reward. Don’t give up! Be vigilant and listen for the voice of Jesus Christ. His voice will let you know the set time for you to take the decisive actions which will start the process of your restoration and divine increase in Him.
David
Scriptures: 2 Samuel 5:17-25.
Now we end with David – the man of many stories and lessons. However we are just going to focus on one instance. David had just ascended the throne of Israel and he faced the usual external opposition. The Philistines knew David as an effective general under King Saul, but now that he was King David, they were determined to draw him into combat to defeat him (as they defeated Saul). The Philistines gathered in the valley of Rephaim for combat.
Here’s a key lesson: The set time of God doesn’t expire once you get to the throne. Just because you now possess what He promised you, doesn’t mean that you should go off and “do you”! There is still a set time that you must discern, and that set time must govern your actions. David asked God if he should go up and fight against the Philistines. God gave him the green light and he defeated them soundly, putting them to flight and he even burned the idols that they left behind. The defeat is so astounding that the battle ground is renamed Baal-perazim: the place where the Lord broke through upon the enemies as a flood of water.
Constantly Seek God’s Counsel
However, the Philistines just can’t take a hint! They come back again, I’m sure that they came back wiser and – in their minds – ready to defeat King David in this round. However David did not get puffed up, heady with the great victory that he had just experienced. I encourage us to be led by the Holy Spirit at all times and not by our own senses and intellectual analyses.
When David enquired of the Lord a second time, God gave him a new battle plan, one that the enemies would never see coming. God told David to go around and behind the Philistine host, even to launch an ambush from within the mulberry trees. However once his army was in the mulberry grove, David had to wait on a set time from God. He had to listen for a sound of “marching in the tops of the mulberry trees” (please see 2 Samuel 5:24, NKJV). That would be his cue that the Lord had gone before him to defeat the enemy host, and all David had to do was to quickly advance. David moved in accordance with this set time of God and the result was a decisive and astounding victory against the Philistines.
You may be facing a great battle that threatens to overwhelm you. However be encouraged that the battle is not yours, it belongs to Jesus, give it all to Him.3 In the place of complete surrender and submission to the will of Christ, you will find renewed strength and His wise counsel. Align yourself with His battle plan and wait for His set time. When we move in divine formation and His set timing, we know that complete victory is assured because the Lord of hosts goes before us!
How It All Comes Together
So I now realise that these three persons are all a part of the lineage of Christ (please read Matthew 1). I believe that when you step out in faithful obedience to Jesus’ call, you become so close to Him that you join His family tree. Faith is an essential component in pleasing Christ and being in perfect alignment with His plan for your life. I pray that your hearts will be in tune with the Holy Spirit, and that you will only listen to His voice, and move in accordance with the set time of God. The set time of God is always guaranteed to bring you to the place and season of His unlimited favour, abundant blessings, holistic restoration, exponential growth, and supernatural victory.
Blessings, peace and wisdom upon you,
Sophia.
One Last Note
I pray that on this sad anniversary that we will draw closer to Jesus Christ in everything that we do. I pray that His peace comforts the hearts and minds of all those persons who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks and in subsequent incidents that have occurred. God bless and keep us all.