Delay, human (5)

Examples of delay as a result of fear

Israel entering the promised land

Numbers 13:31–32 NKJV

But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature.

See also Nu 13:1–3; Nu 13:17–20; Nu 13:27–30; Nu 14:33–35

Gideon responding to God’s call

Judges 6:36–40 NKJV

So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said—look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground.

Examples of delay as a result of disobedience

Lot escaping from Sodom

Genesis 19:16 NKJV

And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.

See also Ge 19:12–15

Jonah going to Nineveh

Jonah 1:3 NKJV

But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

See also Ps 119:60; Jon 1:1–2; Jon 3:1–3 Jonah obeyed the second time.

Nothing should delay believers from following Jesus Christ

Matthew 8:21–22 NKJV

Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

See also Mt 9:9; Mk 1:20; Lk 14:15–24; Lk 19:5–6

People should not delay in the matter of salvation

Isaiah 55:6 NKJV

Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.

See also Am 6:3; Ac 24:24–26; 2 Co 6:2; Heb 2:3

Believers are not to delay in fulfilling their vows to God and obligations to others

Ecclesiastes 5:4 NKJV

When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed—

See also Le 19:13; Dt 23:21; Ps 61:8

Examples of human responses to delay

Sarah’s wrong response brought trouble

Genesis 16:1–6 NKJV

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes. Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The Lord judge between you and me.” So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence.

Saul’s wrong response cost him the kingship

1 Samuel 13:11–12 NKJV

And Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”

See also 1 Sa 13:8–10; 1 Sa 13:13–14

Jacob responded with patience

Genesis 29:20–30 NKJV

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.” And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?” And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.” Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.

Paul responded by giving instructions to Timothy

1 Timothy 3:14–15 NKJV

These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Daniel responded by praying

Daniel 9:19 NKJV

O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

See also Da 9:1–23; Da 10:10–13 Gabriel explains the reason for the delay.

David reponded by calling on the Lord

Ps 13:1; Ps 40:17; Ps 141:1