“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”Galatians 4:4–6
There are dozens of Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, many of them relating to the birth of Jesus Christ. From the first promise of a Saviour given to Adam and Eve and recorded in Genesis 3:15, there was an eager expectation for the coming of the Lord. As time passed, first years, then centuries and then millennia, there were still faithful people waiting and watching for His coming. Just as with everything God does, it did not happen according to man’s schedule. It was only “when the fulness of time was come” that Jesus was born.
Just as one example, events were orchestrated that literally put the world in motion as the government in Rome declared a census which required people to return to their ancestral home town to be registered. That order from an occupying foreign power was probably a source of great frustration and annoyance to the people of Israel, but it was necessary to get Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem so that Jesus could be born there and prophecy be fulfilled. God is not bound by time as we are, and He is willing to wait and work behind the scenes to bring everything together in His perfect timing.
Understanding that God is working even when we do not see Him is essential to maintaining our faith through the hard times that come. He is able to use everything that happens for good, and to use even those who oppose us to bring about His purpose and plan.– Daily in the Word
