Always in Time

Encouragements

20As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to keep many people alive.

– Genesis 50:20

16Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.

– Hebrews 4:16
(NASB® © 2020)

The Bible contains a wonderful promise: “Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). This means that the Lord always helps us at the right time. We would often define this as “immediately,” but He has the perfect timetable in mind. He helps in time – at the latest.

We find an impressive illustration of this truth in Joseph’s life. From the time he narrowly escapes a murder plot by his brothers and is sold into slavery to the time he emphasizes the hand of God in these circumstances at the end of his long journey, a very long time passed. When he said: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:20), more than 20 years had passed since then.

Joseph may have doubted God’s timing in the meantime, as one of his promises (which the Word of God does not tell us about) was apparently not fulfilled. At least we read in Psalm 105:19: “Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.” So the Lord made it clear to him at this time that Joseph only had to trust Him—He would intervene at the right time!

Sometimes, waiting for the Lord to intervene may seem like an endless wait. We may wonder whether the Lord has forgotten us or our needs, and we may doubt His wise timing.

Then, we can cling to the biblical truth: the Lord helps at the right time!

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