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Genesis 15:16

¹⁶And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."

When God entered into a covenant with Abram, God foretold that his descendants would be captives in a foreign land for 400 years. That would prove to be the length of their time in Egypt. God promised they would come out with great possessions. That is when God would give Abram's descendants the Promised Land. Why so long a wait?

When the fourth generation returned to the land, they would be told to wipe out the inhabitants. Some would use this as an excuse to call the God of the Old Testament genocidal, but listen to what God just said. They could not come to claim the land for 400 years because the sins of the Amorites were not yet complete. God would give the people that the Israelites would displace four centuries to get their act together. But God, who is outside of time and can see the end from the beginning, knew that they would pile evil upon evil until their just sentence would be annihilation. When the Israelites entered the land, they would surely be attacked. It was God's just punishment to have Israel preemptively destroy the wicked inhabitants.

Sometimes we would ask the same question, "Why so long a wait?" We wonder why our prayers are not answered, why wickedness seems to go unchecked, why the liar prospers and the adulterer is healthy. God sees all, every action, throughout time. He knows the right time and will have justice and righteousness prevail in the end. Our perspective is miniscule. We must learn to leave the times and methods to Him and simply trust that He is a loving and righteous God who is all-powerful and all-knowing.

Prayer: LORD, when I am tempted to doubt, when I do not understand the events in my life, teach me to trust in Your wisdom and know You will do what is right. Help me to remember how limited my understanding is compared to Yours.