Silent Years
After Adam and Eve's disobedience, God gave a promise that He would send a Redeemer. Throughout the books of the Old Testament, He gave more specifics about this Messiah that would come. Over 300 prophecies were made about Jesus coming as the Lord and Savior, the Christ, the Messiah and then...there was silence. No more words from God to man for 400 years. Silent years. What happens when God is silent?
Had He given up on people? Had they not heard Him correctly when He spoke? Did He change His mind and decide not to keep His promises? Could they really trust Him?
During those 400 years, God's work moved behind the scenes to bring about what He had purposed to do. During that time, the Greek language became the common language. Greek is a specific language; a language that would be able to most clearly explain the Messiah's message and ministry. Also during that time, the Roman government extended its rule. To maintain their governing ability, they developed roads that would enable travel to various parts of the empire with relative ease.
After those long years of silence, in God's perfect timing, Jesus came. His life and ministry were recorded in the Greek language and word about Him spread quickly along those wonderful Roman roads. God's apparent delays are a part of His plan, to accomplish what He has purposed to do.
When God is silent in our lives, what can we do?
- We can know that He has not left us or forgotten us. (Deuteronomy 31:6,8; Isaiah 49:14-16)
- We can trust that He is working out His good purpose in our life. (Isaiah 46:10)
- We can wait expectantly, as Simeon and Anna. (Luke 2:25-38)
Simeon lived a righteous life; Anna served God with fasting and prayer. During God's silence they were living confident that He would do what He had promised to do. When the Light broke through the darkness of those silent years and they saw the baby Jesus, the fulfillment of God's promises, they blessed God and thanked Him for His goodness.
May we learn to trust His silence and wait patiently with confidence that He is working all things together to accomplish His good purpose.
Photo by Juskteez Vu via Unsplash