It Takes A While

Yesterday in our family devotions we read the story of Gideon's son, Abimelech. Abimemech was the son of Gideon's concubine. Gideon had several wives and 70 other sons. Gideon's numerous wives caused his family a great deal of trouble. Abimelech murdered all but one of his step-brothers and set himself up as a kind of king in his region.

The one brother that escaped the murder claimed that the town that he overtook would one day overtake him. Three years later the people of the area rebelled and there was a fight. In the fight Abimemech was killed when a woman in a tower dropped a stone on his head. The commentary from Judges 9 says, "Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers. 57 Also God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came upon them." NIV

What caught my attention was the three year period between the murder of the 69 brothers and the resulting death that was foretold in the curse of the escaping brother. Notice that "God repaid" the wickedness. I think that we often allow our own history to have as much memory as the 24 hour news cycle. We have lost the ability to understand the links between our own actions and consequences that follow. Because we can not make the connection, we can not see God's hand of warning of direction in our lives. We are too short sighted. Here are two thoughts.

First, what if getting the blessings of God takes a while. What if serving him for a month is not long enough for us to grow through out trouble and see the resulting blessing on the other side. What if your miracle takes three years? Will you stick it out with God, or give up just before the miracle arrives.

Second, what if God has forgiven you, but you are still struggling with the consequences of your previous life? I have seen many people pull the faith ejection seat when they face the consequences of their past. Don't pull that escape cord! Hang on and see how the Lord brings you through. Even if it takes a while, be faithful and stick with the Lord. He will see you through.

Remember, God is eternal. He does not see time like you and I see time. He has a different idea of what a long time really is.