“And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year” (Josh 5:11-12).
Could God’s timing have been any more perfect? For 40 years God supplied Israel with manna every day as they wandered through the desert, and the very next day after they’d eaten the produce of the promised land, the manna vanished. I wonder if the Israelites looked at the ground, saw no manna, then slowly looked up at the sky, and said, “Woahhh!”
God knows the beginning and end of every event: “I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:9-10).
From eternity God ordained the very number of days each nation would exist: “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place” (AC 17:26).
God planned the exact day of Jesus’ death to coincide with the day of preparation of the Passover in Jerusalem (John 19:14). As the blood of thousands of Passover lambs flowed in Jerusalem, the Lamb of God was pouring out his blood on the cross for sinners.
God has a perfect timing for everything in our lives. Before any of us were born he determined every single day of our lives (PS 139:16). He knew the very moment of our birth and knows the exact moment our spirits will soar to heaven. God planned the exact day and hour he would breathe new life into us.
God knows the exact minute a trial will begin, and the exact minute it will end. He won’t permit us to suffer one second longer than we need to in order for him to accomplish his glorious purposes in us.
“My times are in your hand” (PS 31:15). Who knows what wonderful things he has in store for you today?
photo by Leo Reynolds
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
How beautiful! To remember that our loving Father knows the exact moment we should begin and end suffering and knows the exact moment that we should receive blessing is such a comfort. Our father will supply all our needs, at the right time. No sooner, no later. He has the entire universe planned down to the nano-second. What a God we serve!!
Thank you yet again Mark.
when I was growing up, I attended a church that did not teach or cherish the sovereignty of God. trials seemed hopeless and God seemed powerless. after God saved me about 4 years ago and I began attending my church, I’m learning more of His planning and care. And I’ve found it to be such a comfort and hope.
my trials don’t surprise him. my struggles and undiagnosed pains aren’t an accident – He planend them, He comforts me and holds me through them and He has planned the day they will end (whether in this life or the day I see Him face to face).
thanks for this encouragement. thanks for the reminder of who my God is. I don’t know when I get out of bed how my day will turn out, but He has planned all of my days! He is amazing.
Emily
Hey There Mark!
“My times are in your hand”-Ps.31:5
What an incredible reminder that no matter what we face, it has already passed through the loving hands of our perfect Father!
God is sovereign, even over those situations that totally take us by surprise, He knew long before it ever happened. What a comforting thought, what an inspiration to worship Him and Him alone!
Thank you Mark, for another great encouraging start to my Monday morning!
Blessings
Ron Reffett
This is so encouraging and such a needed reminder. I’ve been waiting for the Lord’s timing on an issue for about seven months now, and it has been super hard sometimes. But I always remind myself that God has exactly what I need planned, and that I can trust Him to not mess it up. If I lean on my own understanding, I’m in trouble; but if I trust in Him with all my heart and acknowledge Him in all my ways, then He will direct my paths. Thanks Mark!
“God knows the exact minute a trial will begin, and the exact minute it will end. He won’t permit us to suffer one second longer than we need to in order for him to accomplish his glorious purposes in us.”
That is amazing to remember. Thank you so much, Mark!
Wendy, Emily, Ron, Rachel, Megan,
Thank you for your comments. Each of you is so thoughtful and encouraging, and it means a lot to Stephen and me that you’d take the time to comment! I’m grateful for each of you.
Thanks for this post. Thanks for having a blog. I really appreciate it. I’ve been struggling with the sin of worry/doubt/fear for a while now (not at all something I want to be doing; it’s just difficult to get out of it )- thanks for this post – it is encouraging.
God is amazing.
bret c.