March 13 When God Says ‘Not Yet

 Theme: Patience in seasons of waiting

Author: Yvette Gayle 
Creek SDA Church

Scripture: Genesis 15: 1-6 (NIV)

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, [a] your very great reward.[b]”2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit[c] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, 'So shall your offspring[d] be.' 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 

The saying “patience is a virtue” is widely recognized and carries a certain truth, serving as a commendable aspiration for many. However, the reality is that during our most trying times—those moments that necessitate patience—we often struggle to maintain our composure and calmness. This was true for Abram, who would later be known as Abraham, and his wife, Sarai, who eventually became Sarah, though she is not mentioned in this passage. In Genesis 12, God called Abram to leave Ur and journey to a new land that He would reveal to him, promising that Abram would become a great nation, his name would be renowned, and he would be abundantly blessed. Abram obeyed (Genesis 12:4). He gathered his entire household and relocated as God had instructed. Abram was seventy-five years old, and Sarai was ten years younger.

The promise was reiterated in Genesis 15. By the time Abram reached the age of ninety, fifteen years later, God’s promise had still not been fulfilled, as the couple remained childless. What should one do when God directly or indirectly communicates “not yet?” In Genesis Chapter 16, Sarai proposed that Abram sleep with her Egyptian slave in hopes of building a family through that union. The suggestion seemed reasonable and was not an uncommon practice, even today, for surrogacy methods to be employed in establishing a family. But let’s examine what was wrong with Sarai’s suggestion and Abram’s response.

1.      Sarai had lost her hope and trust in God’s covenant, lamenting that “the Lord had kept me from having children.” Many years had passed, and she had long surpassed the biological age for childbirth. In her waiting, she overlooked that God had made the promise and that God is both holy and true. The wait was indeed excruciatingly long. Have you ever clung to a promise from God, only to find the time for its fulfillment seems unbearably extended? You are not alone; I am not alone. Hannah endured many years before giving birth to her son, Samuel, whose name means “God has heard.” Rebekah faced barrenness, prompting her husband Isaac to pray for her (Genesis 25:21). Elizabeth, too, was advanced in age and beyond the biological period for childbirth, yet she became the mother of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus. Lazarus was sick when the news was sent to Jesus. He stayed where he was for two days before leaving. Interestingly, Jesus chose to go to Bethany not at the point of Lazarus’ sickness when there was still hope of recovery but at the point of death when it seems beyond hope. (St. John 11 12: 15). We can learn from Jesus’s seeming delay that when God says not yet, it is for His glory and to draw us closer to Him and His purpose for our lives.

2.      Abram ultimately succumbed to Sarai's suggestion despite his earlier faith. He should have demonstrated greater strength and led his household according to God's Word. When a husband steps away from his divine role as the priest of the home, his home becomes more vulnerable to Satan's attacks. Women, let us pray for our men, our boys, and our girls. Indeed, as we navigate these final days of Earth's history, we need men who, like Daniel, purpose in their hearts; men like the three Hebrew boys, who exhibited spiritual fortitude by refusing to bow to the enemy even if God did not intervene; and men like Job, who showed unconditional love for God by declaring, "Though He slay me, yet will I serve the Lord." We should also have the mindset of Joshua, proclaiming, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." 

When God says, "Not yet," there is always a purpose behind it. Let us exercise patience as we wait, for Isaiah 40:31 reassures us: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not faint." Though challenging, the outcome will prove worthwhile. Couples who long for a child do not lose hope. In God’s perfect time, His plan is being and will be done. God came through for Abraham and Sarah twenty-five years after the initial promise given in Genesis 12. That is indeed a very long time. The couple learned many lessons that apply to us today. They were old and beyond human timing. But God is not bound by time- so what He promised to do, He will do, even if He answers, “not yet”.

 Prayer

Heavenly Father, we humbly come before Your all-seeing Eyes. You are intimately acquainted with the deepest secrets of our lives. In times of doubt during our seasons of “not yet,” grant us the strength to replace fear with faith, anxiety with trust, and uncertainty with an unwavering belief in Your love for us. We bring every hurt from our past and the pain and frustration of our present before You. We trust You, knowing there is a purpose behind Your "not yet," so please grant us patience and peace of mind as we wait. We are confident “and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8: 28 NIV.