In Due Time
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7
The faithfulness of God to Joseph in the Genesis story brings to mind the impeccable timing of God in the lives of His people. In due time, or at the opportune time (Kairos*), could easily be the mantra for such faithfulness.
· In due time: Reuben rescued Joseph from certain death by suggesting his brothers not harm Joseph, rather throw him in a cistern (Genesis 37:21-22).
· In due time: Judah suggested selling Joseph to a caravan on their way to Egypt (Genesis 37:26-28), Egypt being the crux of the famine story.
· In due time: the chief cupbearer would remember that Joseph could interpret dreams and refer him to Pharaoh to reveal the upcoming famine. Pharaoh in turn would put Joseph in charge of storing food in the years of plenty, for the years of lean (Genesis 41:9-57).
Yes, when the time is right God is always faithful to His promises. Joseph’s perspective, and ours, is limited to what we can see. God has the big picture. Only in hindsight do we see as He sees.
And so we learn to wait on God’s timing as Peter suggests we do. By humbling ourselves to seek God’s helping hand we discover that He will lift us out of the pits we find ourselves in, “in due time”. And in our meekness we will come upon God’s grace (Charis)—“the loving kindness of God to men”**.
Meanwhile, when we can’t see out of those pits of despair or doubt, we cast our cares fully on God knowing that He cares for us. Casting is a deliberate action you know: picture a fisherman casting his rod. You must give all your cares to God or they will stay on you.
In due time is always God’s perfect timing. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Nancy P
*Kairos, Lexical Aids to the New Testament, Zodhiates, p.924
**Charis, Lexical Aids to the New Testament, Zodhiates, p.967
All Scripture quotations are from the NIV Translation 1973, 1978, 1984, unless otherwise noted
