What other biblical instances show God's work being delayed by external forces? Opposition in Ezra: A Pattern of Delay “So the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.” (Ezra 4:24) Pharaoh’s Iron Grip: Deliverance Deferred “Since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all!” (Exodus 5:23) • Pharaoh’s stubborn resistance stretched Israel’s bondage. • Ten plagues turned the delay into a fuller display of God’s power (Exodus 12:12). Forty Years on Hold Because of Giants “You will bear the iniquity of your sins forty years, corresponding to the number of the days you scouted the land …” (Numbers 14:34) • External threats (giants, fortified cities) fed internal fear. • Entry into Canaan waited a generation, yet the promise stood firm for Joshua and Caleb. Spiritual Resistance over Persia “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me for twenty-one days; then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me …” (Daniel 10:13) • Daniel’s answer was delayed by invisible spiritual opposition. • God’s messenger arrived right on time to fulfill the divine schedule (Daniel 10:14). Ridicule and Threats against Nehemiah “When Sanballat … Tobiah … and the Ashdodites heard that the repair … was progressing … they all conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem and create confusion.” (Nehemiah 4:7-8) • Verbal attacks, plots, and fear slowed construction. • The wall still rose in fifty-two days, proving opposition could not halt God’s plan (Nehemiah 6:15). Flight to Egypt: Herod Tries to Stop the King “Get up … flee to Egypt … for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” (Matthew 2:13) • A murderous decree forced a detour. • The delay fulfilled prophecy: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” (Matthew 2:15) Satanic Roadblocks on the Mission Field “For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan hindered us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:18) • Repeated attempts to visit were blocked. • The setback produced Spirit-inspired letters that still minister today. Courtroom Red Tape: Paul in Chains “After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but … Felix left Paul imprisoned.” (Acts 24:27) “Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house … proclaiming the kingdom of God … unhindered.” (Acts 28:30-31) • Political delay kept Paul confined. • God used the pause to spread the gospel through “prison epistles.” Key Threads to Notice • Governments, giants, demons, and red tape can slow but never cancel God’s agenda. • Every postponement ultimately magnifies the Lord’s power and advances His purpose. • Delays test faith yet affirm that “the counsel of the LORD stands forever.” (Psalm 33:11) |
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