Exodus 12:25
“When you enter the land which the LORD will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite.”
The Hebrews are in the process of being rescued from 400 years of slavery. They aren’t used to freedom. Their parents nor their grandparents had it. They did have the promise passed down that they would one day live in the promised land. I’m sure they had their faith, but their daily reality was being a construction crew for Pharaoh. They probably didn’t have hope for their children to be free. All of the sudden, they are in a battle with Pharaoh over their freedom. There is talk of being released. Not only that but today’s scripture is referrencing entering the promised land. This also is amazing. The generations of legend that has been passed down is coming to life. Some may have seen it as myth. Here they are on the verge of it.
God has promised things to us. Jeremiah 29:11 “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” This works out differently for all of us. Nor do we know how it will be fleshed out for each of us. We may be in a sowing stage inwhich we don’t see any fruit. We may have been there so long that we can’t imagine a change. God does fulfill promises in His time. It might not be exactly as we’ve thought, but when we look back, we would agree that it was good. Just like the Hebrews we may be in that waiting stage. We are to continue being faithful in our tasks. He hasn’t forgotten. The waiting is part of the lesson. We learn to satisfy ourselves in Him, not in particular results. 1 Peter 1:8 says, “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,” God wants this to be our daily reality, “joy unspeakable…” The fruit of the Spirit are to be ours presently, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, …”. This isn’t a future promise, but something we’re to be experiencing now. This is part of the wonderful goodness of The Lord. This helps us be patient for the future fulfillment of His promises. 2 Corinthians 1:22 tells us that He gave us the Holy Spirit as a down payment as a guarantee of future fulfillment of all promises, “who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.” He will one day fulfull the promise of His second coming. This has been expected by many generations. It seems hard to imagine, but it also will be fulfilled one day.
Lord, thank You for Your promises. Thank You for promises that You’ve already fulfilled. We look to You in hope for future ones. Thank You that You give us Your Spirit and Your joy in the mean time.