Exodus 4:27-31 (ESV)

The LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD with which he had sent him to speak, and all the signs that he had commanded him to do. Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. Aaron spoke all the words that the LORD had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.

Notice that everyone gets the news second hand, from Aaron. Why doesn’t Moses tell them himself what he saw? Aaron wasn’t even there. What’s the matter Moses? Cat got your tongue?

Yes. Moses isn’t ready yet. God sent Aaron out to meet Moses because He understands timing.

Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.” – Exodus 4:14 (ESV)

We hear it all the time – “God’s timing is not our timing.” To be more specific, God’s timing is usually slower than our timing, especially if we’re waiting on God. Of course, if it’s about when we’re going to get off the couch and serve him fully – then it feels like God’s rushing things.

Here we see a perfect example of someone (Moses) wanting to stay on the couch. God calls him to action but cuts him some slack. God doesn’t just allow Moses to use Aaron as his mouthpiece; it was His idea.

Moses’s transformation won’t happen overnight.

Let’s be honest – God’s timing is irritating. Yes, it’s all our fault – our sinful impatience is the problem – but, if we’re going to deal with it, we need to see it for what it is. We don’t make progress by praying, “Lord, give me patience, and give it to me now.”

Never forget that God’s plans are big. Our impatience is really just a case of not seeing the forest for the trees. We have a local perspective; we can’t see what God’s up to (not that we’d understand it anyway). In times of trial, we’re supposed to remember that God sees the big picture.

Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done – especially when we have no idea what the big picture might be. We memorize all the right words, but nothing feels right.

It might help to remember that this is exactly how we were told it would be. Both the Old and New Testaments portray many situations as despairing, yet ultimately glorious. They also warn us to expect the same.

It’s what we signed up for.

The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies