Staying in Time With God’s Rhythm

Man’s concept of time is so different than that of God’s; we are finite and He is infinite after-all. Reading about how God laid his plan out to bring about salvation blows my small brain. God took 400 years to create a nation out of one man with 12 sons (think about it; the United States is only 235 years); for me 400 years is a long time but not to God. When Jacob (Israel) and his family went to live in Egypt, there were about 70 people in total and when God brought them out 400 years later there were over 2 million people (some scholars think the number could be bigger; closer to 6 million). The idea how God takes His time to do his work leaves me awestruck.

When God gives us a task to do for Him, we think we will do it now. Most of the time, we are no where ready to do the work He calls us to do. When Samuel anointed David with oil to be king of Israel, David was only 14 to 16 years old. He had no leadership experience, no training in war, or no political training; nothing. God had called David to do a job and when God calls us He equips us. David learned reliance on God by tending to sheep alone in the country side. God opened the door for David to be noticed by the then king Saul who made him his personal musician. From there, David was trained in the art of war, becoming a general with his own troops, and being developed into a leader by experience. God took 15 years to make David king of a portion of Israel and then made him king of all Israel. When it was all said and done, it was 20 years or so before David became king but he was called to the job before he was “qualified” for it. When God calls you to do something; all the qualifications needed are met in Him.

David served God as king of Israel for a good long time. Some people are called to a task by God and do it for a long time and some for a shorter amount of time. In either case, they are doing the task they were called to do for God. We all have a purpose in our lives as God’s people. Paul is quoted in Acts 13: 36, “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep [or died] . . .” After God is done with us, our task is completed.

Remember what I wrote in the last post about Ephesians 2:10? The task or job God calls us to do for Him; He has already completed it. Our job isn’t to produce anything; it’s to follow God and march to His drumbeat. God is the One who produces fruit from the ministry He has called us to do. We just need to stay in time with the rhythm He has set.