WHY UNGODLY DELAY IS NOT TO BE TOLERATED
WHY DELAY IS NOT TO BE TOLERATED
Dan 10:12-14 KJV 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
This was two years after the order had been given by Cyrus for the restoration of the Hebrew people to their country, but it is not improbable that they met with many embarrassments in their efforts to return, and possibly there may have sprung up in Babylon some difficulties on the subject that greatly affected the mind of Daniel.
Daniel’s answer to his prayer was delayed for 21days and he fasted for that number of days. Probably he planned for just one day. Delay is dangerous.
This is how Bible described the fasting period
Dan 10:2-3 KJV 2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
This fast was rather a general abstinence; living all the while on coarse and unsavoury food; drinking nothing but water; not using the bath, and most probably wearing haircloth next the skin, during the whole of the time
Did he plan to fast for a long period of time?
If he had gotten an answer the very first day would he have continued mourning and fasting? No sir.
There are things we suffer when there is delay. Many things happen to people.
1. When there is delay people will lose confidence in God
Gen 18:13-15 KJV 13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? 14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. 15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
Luk 1:18 KJV And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
2. When there is delay, people will play God or try to help God
Gen 16:1-3 KJV 1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
3. When there is delay people tend to idolatry. The children of Israel having waited for Moses asked Aaron to make Golden calf
Exo 32:1 KJV And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
It is the same reason that makes people visit native doctors and false prophets for quick solutions.
4. When there is delay, the heart become sick, people become discouraged and disheartened
Pro 13:12 KJV Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
That is, the object hoped for; if it is not enjoyed so soon as expected, at least if it is delayed any length of time, the mind becomes uneasy, the heart sinks and fails, and the man is dispirited and ready to despond, and give up all hope of enjoying the desired blessing; whether it be deliverance from any evil, or the possession of any good
5. When there is delay people become envious e,g Rachael
Gen 30:1 KJV And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
It is very evident from the text, that the foundation of this impatient and unbecoming behaviour in Rachel, was envy and jealousy of her sister
6. When there is delay; people become discouraged. The children of Israel were fed up because of the long journey they took while going to Canaan even though God made them pass through wilderness.
Num 21:4 KJV And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
Because it was going back instead of going forward to Canaan’s land, and because of the length of the ., way; it was a round about way they were going; when, could they have been admitted to have passed through the country of Edom, the way would have been short;
7. When there is a delay people make mistakes in doing what they ought not to do. Case study of Saul who tarried for seven days and ended up sacrificing.
1Sa 13:8-10 KJV 8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. 10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
8. When there is delay people misbehave
Mat 24:48 KJV But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
The Greek word for delay is “chronizo”. it means to linger, delay, tarry
9 When there is delay it may result in calamity
2Sa 20:4-5 KJV 4 Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present. 5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
Because he delayed another soldier being summoned and as he was returning to Jerusalem, he met the army, it was there Joab killed him.
10. When is delay in execution of judgement against misbehaviour, people persist in it
Ecc 8:11 KJV Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
The reason why the wicked persevere in sin: God’s delay in judgment (Mat 24:48-51; 2Pe 3:8; 2Pe 3:9). Joab’s escape from the punishment of his murder of Abner, so far from “leading him to repentance,” as it ought (Ro 2:4), led him to the additional murder of Amasa. Because God does not immediately punish every delinquency, men think he disregards evil acts; and therefore they are emboldened to sin on.
What did the Bible say about all these?
Bible say satisfy us early Ps 90
Psa 90:14 KJV O satisfies us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Early—promptly
God Himself does not like things been prolonged unnecessarily
Eze 12:22-23 KJV 22 Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? 23 Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.
Eze 12:25 KJV For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.
We are encouraged to wait though it tarry or delay
Hab 2:3 KJV For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
THIS IS THE GOODNEWS:
What is delayed will eventually come
Heb 10:37 KJV For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Apostle encouraged the Hebrew people by quoting Habakkuk
Hab 2:3 KJV For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
The answer finally came after 21days, he said I am now coming for thy word.
This place referred to the Messiah. The same encouragement and consolation may be employed still. To all the afflicted it may be said that “he that shall come will come” soon. The time of affliction is not long. Soon the Redeemer will appear to deliver his afflicted people from all their sorrow.
The Hebrews were to wait with patience and perseverance, that they might receive the promise of an eternal inheritance. They were to hold out for some time, be it more or less; and he that is to come, will come, and will not delay his coming beyond the time appointed.
Prayer points
- Every yoke of delay, marital delay, conception delay, business delay, let them be broken in Jesus name
- Every power holding on to what belongs to be loose that power now
- Angel received help, i received divine help, divine assistance , angelic intervention in Jesus name.