By Mike Caton

Exodus 7:25, “Seven days passed after the LORD struck the Nile.”

This might be another of those verses that we skim right over when we are reading. Moses and Aaron have appeared before Pharaoh, and they (really God) has turned all the water to blood. The Egyptians are busy looking for water to drink. The Nile is stinking, fish are dying and so forth. Seven days pass.

Sometimes we forget about the passage of time when we read the Bible. We sit down and read for 30 minutes or so and don’t consider how long it takes for those things we read about to play out. When a baby is born, it takes nine months, we can read about the birth of Jesus, or John the Baptist, or Isaac in just a minute. And remember, Abraham and Sarah waited many years for the birth of Isaac. What happened during those waiting periods? We might say life went on; they looked for food, tended their sheep, celebrated birthdays, mourned at funerals, went to work, came home and so forth. The simple truth is, they did the same things they did every other day. And maybe the same things that we do every day.

But let’s not forget that in those down times, those times when it seems like nothing is happening, God is still working. Think about the years Moses was gone from Egypt, getting married, tending sheep, dealing with family matters. God was preparing him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Mary and Joseph were preparing their house to be a home for Jesus. And we need to understand God is preparing us for something, maybe something we cannot imagine. And we need to work with God in those times. Who knows what God has in store for you?

Father, help me learn the lessons in the waiting times. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works full time with Hyde County EMS. If you would like to receive daily devotions in your inbox, email mikecaton@centurylink.net.

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