When God Says Not Now
Moses is standing in front of the Israelites when he says, “Remember the great terrors the Lord your God sent against [the Egyptians]. You saw it all with your own eyes! And remember the miraculous signs and wonders, and the strong hand and powerful arm with which he brought you out of Egypt. The Lord your God will use this same power against all the people you fear. The Lord your God will drive those nations out ahead of you little by little. You will not clear them away all at once, otherwise the wild animals would multiply too quickly for you. He will put their kings in your power, and you will erase their names from the face of the earth. No one will be able to stand against you, and you will destroy them all.” Deuteronomy 7:19, 22, 24 NLT
Have you ever asked God to take something horrible out of your life because you felt its presence destroying you, and yet God doesn’t make it go away as quickly as you would like? When this happens, it’s hard not feeling the dreaded question “why” hanging over your head, especially when you know God could snap His fingers and make it go away in an instant; but I love how God spells out His reasoning in these verses. He tells us He will not clear away all our problems at once, otherwise the negative consequences of doing so would “multiply too quickly” and create other problems we wouldn’t be able to handle. It’s nice to know God is looking out for us, so next time you’re up against overwhelming stress and unanswered questions, remember: God’s timing is a blessing, even when we don’t see or feel it. He’s got ya!