Day 61 — God’s Timing
Genesis 37:5-8
Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.
One of the problems of this story is that Joseph did have a dream. He didn’t make it up. It was real and he understood the meaning of the dream correctly.
For some of us, as soon as we hear about a task or project we want to get started straight away. We’ll have written the first email before even finishing the initial conversation where we are discussing if it is even a good idea. Similarly, when we sense God speaking, it is so tempting to instantly jump to the expectation that he’ll fulfil a particular promise straight away. More often than not, God’s on a very different timescale to us.
Joseph could have had a similar inbuilt desire that wants to get on and do things. He was a man of great potential and skill. Joseph correctly interpreted what God was saying through the dream about his future calling and positional influence over his brothers; he was just slightly naive and quick off the mark to share this (somewhat aggravating) piece of information with said brothers. I can imagine the glee if I were able to say a similar thing to my little brother!
Joseph needed to learn that when God speaks, we don’t need to force it through. In fact, God tends to speak well in advance of us actually needing to know things, in order to allow us to be shaped as part of the process. When God speaks, there is great wisdom in waiting and trusting God in the process and timing. In the story of David we also hear of the son of Issachar who ‘understood the times and knew what Israel should do’ (1 Chronicles 12:32). They not only had prophetic insight but knew how to work it out with good timing.
Let’s be wise and understand the times we’re in, and importantly, who controls it. God may speak promises over us to prepare us, over time, for future action; which could still be many years away. In the meantime, let’s rest in the fact that God is always working and moving in us, to form us ready to fulfil our individual callings.
And if we happen to be too quick off the mark to get started, don’t fret; God still fulfilled the promise he gave to Joseph when the time was right. After all, the destination is the journey.
Prayer — Father, we know you are speaking and want to talk to us individually today. We ask that we would listen to you speak and hear your words, but then listen again to your timing of how to speak your words. Thank you that you are the God who speaks in this moment, and you continually shape us for our present and future purposes.
James Brumwell & Nick Harding