The Fulness of Time

But when the fulness of the time came... (Gal 4:4)

"And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you..." Is 30:18
I usually think of waiting from my perspective, I don't often think about it from God's perspective. Thousands of years passed from the promise to crush the serpents head, till Jesus died on the cross. Thousands of years, think about it. I mean why did God have to wait so long to save us? Couldn't He have done it sooner? It appears that God was waiting till, as we would say the time was ripe. You can do the same thing on a different day and get a very different result. He was getting all His ducks in a row, crossing all His T's and dotting all His I's so that when at last He shot His arrow He hit the dead center of the bullseye, on the very day that it would have the most impact for eternity.

When I was 19 years old, I was desperately wanting to find the one who God planned to be a life mate for me. I couldn't understand why He wouldn't hurry up. My wife is 8 years younger than me, if He would have pointed out an 11 year old to me, I probably would have thought it was the devil who was speaking and not God. So He waited to be gracious to me, in spite of all my petitions and requests that things be speeded up, in spite of my complaints, He even risked my doubting in His love to wait till the time was right. I am so glad He did.

If you are struggling with waiting for something today, take comfort that God is also waiting, waiting for the absolutely best and perfect time. Keep the fire burning.

A Branch Over the Wall

Ge 49:22  "Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall."

Joseph was a man who brought great blessing to the land of Egypt. The bible tells us Pharaoh had a dream of seven skinny cows eating seven fat cows, and when they were done they looked no better, they were still malnourished. Joseph interpreted it to mean 7 good years would be followed by 7 bad years, that would be so bad the 7 good years would be completely forgotten. He told Pharaoh that Egypt should prepare for what was ahead. Pharaoh hired Joseph, and through his efforts Egypt not only survived, but thrived in a very difficult time.

Joseph got to Egypt by being sold as a slave by his step-brothers. Nice family, huh? He didn't stop being fruitful or a blessing because of the harm done to him by others, but instead was a source of refreshing wherever he went. He decided to bloom where he was planted. In this case people outside of his kingdom (Israel) were  able to enjoy some of the fruit of his walk with God. Everyone has bad stuff happen to them, what the world needs more of is people who can continue to bear fruit in spite of the hurdles life, and others put in their way.

The text tells us 3 things about Joseph:
1. He was very fruitful. That is what God wants and expects from us.
2. He was planted and received nourishment from the spring he was planted near (Psalm 1). Irrespective of what life may throw at you, you will find that God will always see to it you have enough nutrition to prosper, flourish, and bear much fruit. Isaiah 5:1,2; and John 15 especially v. 8 and 16.
3. He climbed over the wall of his circle of family and friends and was a blessing to others who enjoyed the fruit his life was producing. Fruit is meant to be shared, not hoarded.

May God make you fruitful, and may your fruit nourish many who live on the other side of the wall. Keep your fire burning.