What can we learn about God's timing from 1 Kings 18:11? Setting the Scene “And now you say, ‘Go tell your master that Elijah is here!’” (1 Kings 18:11) Ahab has hunted Elijah for three years of drought. At the very moment God chooses, Elijah reappears and sends Obadiah to announce him. From that single line, Scripture opens a window on God’s precise, often surprising timing. Key Observations on God’s Timing • God’s timing arrives after a divinely appointed wait – The drought had lasted exactly as long as God decreed (1 Kings 17:1; 18:1). – Habakkuk 2:3: “Though it lingers, wait for it; … it will not delay.” • God’s timing often confronts human fear – Obadiah fears Ahab’s wrath (18:12), yet Elijah insists: “I will surely present myself to Ahab today” (18:15). – Psalm 56:3: “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.” • God’s timing demands obedience before clarity – Obadiah must act without knowing how God will preserve him. – Genesis 22:1–14: Abraham moves toward Moriah without seeing the ram. • God’s timing positions His servants perfectly for His larger purpose – Elijah’s appearance sets up Mount Carmel’s showdown (18:20–40). – Esther 4:14: “Who knows if you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” • God’s timing verifies His faithfulness – The drought ends exactly when God promised (18:41–45). – Galatians 4:4: “When the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son.” Practical Takeaways 1. Trust the calendar you cannot see—God’s. 2. Expect fear to surface; answer it with obedience. 3. Recognize delays as preparation, not abandonment. 4. Watch for alignment: when God moves, multiple pieces converge. 5. Remember every fulfilled promise fuels faith for the next wait. Encouraging Scriptures to Hold Onto • Psalm 31:15 – “My times are in Your hands.” • Isaiah 40:31 – “Those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength.” • John 7:6 – “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.” • Acts 1:7 – “It is not for you to know times or seasons the Father has fixed by His own authority.” Waiting is never wasted when God writes the schedule. |
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