How can we trust God's timing when facing opposition, as seen in Exodus 7:4? Setting the Scene in Exodus • Exodus 7 opens with Moses and Aaron standing before a hard-hearted Pharaoh. • Verse 4 declares: “Yet Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My armies — My people the Israelites — from the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.” • God makes two realities clear: Pharaoh’s refusal will continue for a time, and God’s deliverance will arrive at precisely the right moment through mighty acts. Truths About God’s Timing from Exodus 7:4 • God foreknows resistance. “Pharaoh will not listen” shows that opposition never surprises Him (cf. Psalm 139:4). • Delay is purposeful. God uses the waiting period to “multiply My signs and wonders” (Exodus 7:3), displaying His glory more fully. • Timing is tied to deliverance. Only when God “lays His hand” does liberation come—never a moment too soon, never a moment too late (cf. Galatians 4:4). • Judgment and mercy run together. Acts of judgment against Egypt become acts of mercy for Israel (cf. Romans 9:17). Principles for Trusting God’s Timing Today • Remember who holds the clock. “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years” (2 Peter 3:8-9). His perspective eclipses ours. • Look for God’s larger story. He may be showcasing His power, refining faith, or preparing others to see His glory (James 1:2-4; John 11:4). • Rest in His unchanging character. The God who kept His word to Israel keeps His word to us (Numbers 23:19). • Refuse to confuse silence with absence. God was active in Egypt long before the Red Sea parted; He is active in unseen ways now (Isaiah 55:8-9). Living It Out When Opposition Comes • Saturate your heart with Scripture. Passages like Psalm 27:14 and Lamentations 3:25 anchor patience. • Pray expectantly, not anxiously (Philippians 4:6-7). Present needs to God while trusting His schedule. • Stay obedient in the meantime. Moses kept returning to Pharaoh despite repeated rejection; keep doing what God has already shown you (Galatians 6:9). • Celebrate small signs of His hand. Each plague in Egypt proved God’s nearness; note everyday mercies that confirm He is at work. • Encourage others with your waiting story. Testimony of God’s faithfulness strengthens the whole body (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). When opposition feels endless, Exodus 7:4 reminds us that God’s clock is never late, His power is never weak, and His promises are never broken. |