2 Samuel 20:5 (KJV)
So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
Recently I heard a message on the danger of rushing ahead of the Lord. That stirred a question in my mind: does the Bible also warn about lagging too far behind God?
Most examples I found pointed to fear and unbelief—people holding back because they did not trust God to bless or use them. I’ve seen that firsthand. Some are afraid to teach a Sunday school class or step into the pulpit because they fear saying something wrong. Others hesitate to move forward with building or missions projects because of the cost.
Years ago, David Gibbs of the Christian Law Association warned pastors that if we claim to be a ministry of faith, we ought to do something that actually requires faith.
Amasa gives us a sobering example. He had once been Absalom’s general. After Absalom’s death, David forgave Amasa and even gave him Joab’s position. When a crisis arose, Amasa was told to assemble the army—promptly.
But he tarried.
Why he delayed isn’t stated, but the delay mattered. David turned back to Joab, who seized the opportunity to eliminate his rival.
I’m not certain all the lessons that should be drawn from Amasa’s death, but I do know this: over the years I’ve learned to give assignments to people I trust to act when action is needed. Some people simply never move with urgency.
Yes, it’s dangerous to get ahead of God. But it can also be harmful to stay behind Him too long. I’ve seen a few people wait longer than I expected, only to take a giant step forward when the time was right. Sadly, I’ve seen far more cases where procrastination caused real damage.
Timing matters. Obedience delayed can become obedience denied.
#DelayedObedience #TarriedTooLong #FaithRequiresAction #TrustAndTiming #FollowingGodNow
Not Ahead—Not Behind: Learning God’s Timing from a Costly Biblical Mistake
If this message challenged you, don’t just scroll past it. God’s timing matters, and delayed obedience has real consequences.
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