Yes, You Can Ministry

He is not slow

Joshua 21:43, “So the LORD gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and lived in it. 44 And the LORD gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hand. 45 Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed ; all came to pass.”

Centuries had come and gone since God had told Abram to leave his family, and set out for a land that God swore to give him. Abram(Abraham) left his family, and set on an adventure with his wife Sarai(Sarah) to a land that he did not know. The Bible says that Abraham never doubted God, but I think he probably did wonder what he was doing. Abram came from a polytheistic (many gods) society, so the idea that there was only one God was new to Him; but still Abraham believed what he heard, and against all of his learning he set out to follow a God that he did not know to a land that he did not know. Because of his faithfulness we have all been blessed by God, and He was blessed. The Bible speaks of Abraham in Hebrews 11:8, “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance ; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise ; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

Abraham never saw his descendants take possession of the land God had promised, but he did see the Promised Land; the Bible says that he lived in the Promised Land as a foreigner. It would take centuries, but after the children of Israel suffered through many hardships God delivered on His promise, and gave them the land that He had promised Abraham. I know to them it felt like forever, but in the mind of God (who spans eternity) it was only a breath.

We can gain a lot of wisdom when we consider the trials of Abraham, and the Hebrew people because even though they faltered during the time of God’s promise to Abraham and their deliverance into the Promised Land God remained faithful. I know there are times when we feel as though God is not keeping His promise to us who have called on His Son for salvation, but what seems like an eternity for us now is only a moment in the mind of the Eternal One.

God has made the promise to all who have sought refuge in His Son. John 14:1, “Do not let your heart be troubled ; believe in God, believe also in Me.2″In My Father’s house are many dwelling places ; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.3″If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” Jesus promised to bring us into the presence of the Father, and even though the fulfillment of that promise may seem slow to us, it is not slow in the mind of God.

2 Peter 3:3, “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming ? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

Just as the Word tells us that not one promise of God to the Israelites was left unfulfilled; not one promise made to us will go unmet!

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Father God, I thank You for promising me a future in Your Presence, and I ask that You keep me trusting in that promise. In Jesus’ name, Amen ___________________________________

The image above can be found at:http://www.timharner.com/my-books/the-promised-land/