AT THE APPOINTED TIME
What Can Delay the Time?
HABAKKUK 2:3 Esv.
"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."
In the Bible, we see many references to God's timing and the idea of things happening "at the appointed time." This suggests that there is a divine timetable and plan that unfolds according to God's sovereign will. However, the Scriptures also indicate that human choices and actions can influence or even delay the timing of certain events.
So what exactly does it mean for something to happen "at the appointed time"? And what factors can potentially affect or postpone God's timing? As we explore these questions, we'll gain a deeper understanding of the interplay between God's sovereignty and human free will when it comes to the timing of significant events.
GOD'S SOVEREIGN TIMING
One of the clearest statements about God's control over the timing of events comes from the prophet Habakkuk. He writes, "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay" (Habakkuk 2:3).Esv.
This verse speaks to the idea that God has an appointed time for the fulfillment of his purposes and promises. From our human perspective, it may sometimes feel like God is slow or taking too long. But Habakkuk assures us that the vision - God's plan - will not delay beyond its appointed time. It may seem slow, but it will surely come to pass.
Another powerful example of God's sovereignty over timing is found in the book of Ecclesiastes. The Teacher writes, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). He then goes on to list a variety of contrasting events - a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted, and so on.
The implication is that there is a divinely-ordained chronology for the unfolding of all things. God has established specific "appointed times" for the occurrence of major events and the fulfillment of his will. As the psalmist declares, "My times are in your hand" (Psalm 31:15).
THE APPOINTED TIME FOR THE MESSIAH
Perhaps the clearest biblical example of God's sovereign timing is the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Throughout the Old Testament, we find prophecies and promises regarding the Messiah who would one day arrive to redeem God's people. And the New Testament reveals that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of these prophecies, coming at the precise time appointed by the Father.
The apostle Paul writes about this in his letter to the Galatians:
"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:4-5).
The phrase "the fullness of time" suggests that there was a divinely appointed moment in history when the Messiah would come. God's plan unfolded according to his perfect timing - not a moment too soon, and not a moment too late. As the angel Gabriel told Mary, the mother of Jesus, "You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus" (Luke 1:31). This was to happen at the appointed time.
Likewise, the timing of Jesus' death on the cross was predetermined by God. As Jesus told his disciples, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise" (Mark 9:31). The cross was not an accident or a last-minute improvisation, but rather the fulfillment of God's eternal plan of redemption.
POTENTIAL DELAYS IN GOD'S TIMING
While the Bible clearly affirms God's sovereignty over the timing of events, it also suggests that human choices and actions can potentially influence or even delay the outworking of God's plan. This is most vividly seen in the story of the Israelites and their journey to the Promised Land.
After the Exodus from Egypt, God promised to bring the Israelites into the land of Canaan, a land "flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 33:1). However, when the Israelite spies returned from scouting out the land, most of them gave a negative report, saying the inhabitants were too powerful and the cities too fortified for the Israelites to conquer. This led the people to rebel against God and refuse to enter the land.
As a result, God declared that the entire generation of Israelites who had come out of Egypt would not enter the Promised Land. Instead, they would wander in the wilderness for 40 years until that entire generation had died off. Only then would their children be able to enter and possess the land (Numbers 14:20-35).
In this case, the Israelites' lack of faith and disobedience delayed the timing of when they would enter the land God had promised them. Their choices had the effect of postponing the fulfillment of God's plan.
We see a similar dynamic in the life of King David. God had promised David that one of his descendants would reign on the throne forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13). This was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the "Son of David" who would establish an eternal kingdom.
However, David's own sinful actions, such as his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband Uriah, brought negative consequences that temporarily disrupted the timing of God's plan. David's son Absalom later rebelled against him, and there was a period of civil war and unrest in the kingdom before David was finally restored to the throne.
While God's ultimate purposes were not thwarted, David's choices did introduce complications and delays in the outworking of God's plan. The same can be true in our own lives - our disobedience and lack of faith can sometimes postpone or complicate the timing of God's work in our lives and in the world.
THE PATIENCE OF GOD
At the same time, the Bible consistently portrays God as patient and long-suffering, not willing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Even when human sin and disobedience threaten to delay God's plan, he remains steadfast in his commitment to his purposes.
This is seen most vividly in the story of Jonah. When God called Jonah to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh, Jonah initially fled in the opposite direction, unwilling to deliver such a message to Israel's enemies. But after being swallowed by a great fish and spending three days in its belly, Jonah finally obeyed and went to Nineveh.
To Jonah's surprise, the people of Nineveh responded with repentance, and God relented from the disaster he had planned to bring upon the city (Jonah 3:10). While this delayed the timing of Nineveh's judgment, it was ultimately in keeping with God's desire for the people to turn from their wicked ways and be spared.
The apostle Peter reflects on this divine patience, writing, "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
So even when human choices and actions seem to delay or complicate the outworking of God's plan, his ultimate purposes will prevail in his perfect timing. As the prophet Isaiah declares, "my counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose" (Isaiah 46:10).
WAITING ON THE LORD
This brings us to an important lesson about how we are to respond when God's timing does not match our own expectations or desires. The Bible consistently admonishes us to "wait on the Lord" and trust in his perfect timing, even when it is not immediately clear to us.
The psalmist writes, "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" (Psalm 27:14). And the prophet Isaiah encourages, "They who wait for 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" (Isaiah 40:31).
Waiting on the Lord requires patience, faith, and an acknowledgment that God's ways and timing are higher than our own. It means trusting that even when we cannot see or understand the reasons for delay, God is working all things according to the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11).
This kind of waiting is not passive, but rather an active posture of the heart - continuing to seek God, obey his commands, and live in a manner worthy of the calling we have received. As the writer of Hebrews exhorts, "do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised" (Hebrews 10:35-36).
FEW KEY THINGS THAT CAN POTENTIALLY DELAY GOD'S TIMING OR PLAN IN A PERSON'S LIFE:
1. SIN AND DISOBEDIENCE:
The Bible teaches that unrepentant sin and disobedience to God's commands can hinder or delay the fulfillment of God's plans. For example, the Israelites' 40 years of wandering in the wilderness was due to their rebellion and lack of faith (Numbers 14:20-35).
2. LACK OF FAITH: The Bible emphasizes the importance of faith and trusting in God's timing. A lack of faith or doubting God's plan can slow down the outworking of His purposes (Hebrews 3:19, 4:2).
3. FAILURE TO LISTEN AND FOLLOW GOD'S GUIDANCE: Ignoring or failing to seek and obey God's direction can cause delays, as individuals miss opportunities or make decisions out of step with God's will (Proverbs 3:5-6).
4. SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND OPPOSITION: The Bible acknowledges the reality of spiritual forces that can sometimes work to hinder or delay God's plans (Daniel 10:12-13, Ephesians 6:12).
5. GOD'S TIMING AND PURPOSES: Ultimately, the Bible teaches that God is sovereign and works all things according to His perfect timing and plan. Sometimes, delays may be part of God's greater purposes, even if the reasons are not immediately clear to the individual (Ecclesiastes 3:1, Isaiah 55:8-9).
The key points from the message are:
1. Aligning one's life with God's will and trusting in His timing, even through periods of waiting or delay, is essential for experiencing the fullness of His plan.
2. Repentance, faith, obedience, and patience are central themes in biblical teachings about God's timing.
3. God's timing is perfect, and His ultimate plan will be fulfilled in His appointed time, despite any delays or complications caused by human choices and actions.
4. The responsibility of believers is to trust in God's sovereignty, obey Him, and wait patiently for Him to work all things according to His will.
5. As the prophet Habakkuk said, we should have the faith and fortitude to wait on the Lord, confident that His perfect timing will prevail.