Ezra Chapter 5
In God’s time.
As a Christian, I’ve heard this phrase thrown around a lot.
Indeed, it is true that we, whose days were fashioned for us by God before we were born, ought to wait for God’s time. He knows best, after all. Not just as my omnipotent God but also as my loving Father who works all things for my good.
But if we are honest, we’d see that there are instances that we misuse the phrase “in God’s time”.
Maybe we lack the courage to take a bold step towards doing something for God. Something that could be inherently demanding. Something that requires us to step out of our comfort zone.
We say, I’ll do it, in God’s time.
I’ll share the gospel with her in God’s time.
I’ll take up this new work at church in God’s time.
Or, God will send someone to do this work, in God’s time.
There are moments where indeed, the statements above are indeed valid.
At the same time, have we considered that perhaps saying that something will happen “in God’s time” is just an excuse?
That’s what the descendants of the captivity did after the temple work was decreed to stop by King Artaxerxes.
In Ezra 4, the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin had written a letter to King Artaxerxes, accusing the inhabitants of Judah of rebuilding “the rebellious and evil city” (verse 12). In response, the king commanded that the rebuilding stop. “This city may not be built,” he wrote, “until the command is given by me.” (verse 21)
With that, the temple rebuilding stopped for more than 10 years.
What brought them back? Ezra 5:1-2 tell us that the prophet Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews in the name of the God of Israel, and so the people rose and built.
Through Haggai, the Lord pointed out that the Jews had used an excuse: “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.”’ (Haggai 1:2)
Indeed, it might not have appeared to be God’s time for them to build, for a decree against their progress was still in place.
Despite this, God clearly wanted them to take action. Illogical, or dangerous, perhaps. But God’s thoughts and ways are not ours.
Haggai goes on, asking the people to consider their ways, listing problems they were encountering in their lives, and giving them the reason why: “Because of My house that is in ruins,” said the Lord, “while every one of you runs to his own house.” (Haggai 1:9)
Perhaps the true reason they never returned to rebuild the temple, while they made excuses? They wanted to focus their energies on building and dwelling in their own panelled houses, leaving the house of God to lie in ruins.
There are times when courage is called for, even in the face of what may be a danger or great discomfort.
Do we come up with excuses, throwing the ball back to God’s court and saying that we wait on His time, when in fact, we are lazy, strengthless or distracted?
It is not wrong at all to walk behind God. As His faithful children, that is precisely what we must do.
But faith is not one that only rests passively, waiting for God to work but in fact using that time to focus on our own lives.
God could have rebuilt the temple Himself. Yet He wanted Zerubbabel and Jeshua to step up and be involved. It was God’s work. How He was to achieve it was through them.
When God wills, He calls you and me to do work that belongs to Him.
God seeks labourers for His plentiful harvest.
Will you and I accept the call?
Or will we make excuses?