By Mike Caton

Exodus 15:18, “The LORD reigns for ever and ever.”

This song ends with a pretty simple phrase. But these are powerful words. God’s reign, his power, his kingdom, his plans never end. We live in, and those Hebrews did too, a world where things come and go, things change. Everything changes; styles, clothes, houses, culture, governments, rules, food, the list is endless. Everything changes, everything that is, except God.

Do you think those Israelites ever got discouraged in the land of Egypt? Do you think they wondered what happened to God? They had heard stories about God’s mighty power; creation, Noah’s flood, the tower of Babel, and so forth. They had heard about God calling Abraham and the promises to him. They had heard about Isaac and Jacob. They had heard about Joseph. But for the last 400 years they have been slaves in Egypt. And lately, they had been treated worse and worse. Had something happened to God? Had he forgotten them? Had someone replaced him? Had he gotten old and died? It makes sense something must have happened to him, for his people to be in such a bad situation.

But the point here is clear, God is still on the throne! He has not forgotten those Hebrews in their slavery. God has been waiting for the right time to act. In our minds, we have limited time, we know things will change for us; we will get older, our bodies won’t work like they used to, and eventually we will die. That is why we need to do what is important right now. Don’t put off the important stuff. But for God, who is not limited by time, chooses the best time to act. And that is what he has done here in Exodus, and repeatedly throughout the rest of the Bible and even in our own lives. God chooses the right time.

Remember that when you go through life, as you face trials, troubles, struggles, things that you cannot control. Maybe now is just not the right time to act, maybe there is a lesson to be learned, maybe things are not right, maybe there is something else that needs to fall into place. But never forget, God is still on the throne and still in control. We need to learn to trust him in the tough times. And we need to remember, when the time is right, he will act.

Father, thank you for still reigning. 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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