God’s Times and Seasons

Winter…. Spring… Summer… Autumn. Life has a kind of rhythm to it that even an atheist can acknowledge. God has given us signs of His overarching Presence in His created world.

As we left behind a more subdued Christmas season for many, suddenly lots of messages declaring ‘Happy New Year!’ leapt up. But whilst we follow a particular calendar that tells us we have now entered the year 2021, I propose to you that God’s seasons are not quite so simplistic.

When the Almighty God called Moses to bold leadership to bring the Hebrew people out of slavery in Egypt, we see order in the Exodus narrative. Whether it’s the execution of the plagues, or otherwise, God indicates throughout the holy Bible that He has His own times and seasons for everything. We find this:- “Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.” (Exodus 12:1-2). God spoke this during what was called the month of Abib back then, corresponding to March-April – Spring time. A time when new buds come forth. Abib means ‘green ears’ (of grain). The ears of wheat or corn are the grain-bearing tip.

So we see that God told Moses to treat the Spring time as being the “beginning of months”. It makes sense when you compare it to our current new year in the Western world, which is still in the middle of winter… ever thought about that? The only seeming ‘new’ thing about 2021 is the numeric value of the year and that we will become a year older (older rather than newer… physically speaking). Aside to that, the Jewish people have a ‘civic’ calendar which makes September their ‘new year’ – Rosh Hashanah (head of the year). But the ancient sacred guidance from God was for the Spring… a time we know when the daffodils spring up, when the blossoms start sprouting on the trees, when the birds are nesting. But is this writing really just about the physical seasons of the year? By no means! I write this to indicate that I believe God wants us to be looking for His spiritual seasons.

There was a God-appointed time for Moses to lead the people out of Egypt. There is nothing arbitrary with our Maker. Perhaps if anyone might think that we shouldn’t try to apply ‘Old Testament’ ways to our New Covenant lives in Christ, then consider this:-

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:6

When our Saviour – God incarnate, the Word made flesh, came and suffered for our sins, this was in the appointed time. When there were plots to kill Him, nothing was allowed to happen before the ‘due time’. The apostle Paul recognised God’s own strategic timing even for his ministry:- “in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Saviour” (Titus 1:2-3).

We find in the book of Acts, in the Bible, that the establishment of the church as a community of faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit, happened in a strategic way:- “and when the day of Pentecost was come, they were all together in one place.” (Acts 2:1). The proceeding outpouring of the Spirit coincided with a particular festival season well known to the Jewish population, the Feast of Weeks/Shavuot, which was the 50th day after the Passover. It was formerly observed as a time of thanksgiving for the harvest of summer. This is of particular note, that God used the time of an offering of firstfruits of the harvest, to make the followers of the Messiah become His firstfruits of the power of the Spirit.

In fact, it has been discovered that the seven feasts (‘appointed times’) each find their fulfilment in the Coming Messiah. I encourage you to do a study of the Jewish feasts/festivals and their fulfilment or yet-to-be fulfilment here.

So does God have his times and seasons for each of our personal faith journeys with Him? Absolutely. I say this because of considering my own journey so far as a follower of Jesus. For example, God revealed to me through a prayer time with a friend that He would be sending me out in ministry which would involve overseas travel. I did not know then how this might come about, but I knew that it was something to be ready for and look out for, not try to ‘make’ happen. At some point, I was led by the Spirit to join a team going to Ghana for ministry back in 2000. The desire was in my heart, confirmed through prayer with another friend, and came about when I was ‘ready’ in God’s sight. So one of the key ways we discover God’s times and seasons for the particular works He gives us, is through prayer. As we seek God’s will, He is faithful to guide us. Perhaps some of us may be more ‘seasoned’ in our walk with God and ministry activity, or some of us may not have thought too much about it. Whatever end of the spectrum we are at, let’s seek to be sensitive to God’s will for us as the year ahead unfolds. While we go through the COVID situation, God is still on His throne and will guide us through all seasons.