Human delay is often the result of fear, indecision or disobedience to God. Scripture indicates that delay is to be avoided.
Examples of delay as a result of fear
Israel entering the promised land
Numbers 13:31–32 See also Numbers 13:1–3, Numbers 13:17–20, Numbers 13:27–30, Numbers 14:33–35
But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!” So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land that they had spied out: “The land we explored devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw there are great in stature.
Gideon responding to God's call
Examples of delay as a result of disobedience
Lot escaping from Sodom
Genesis 19:16 See also Genesis 19:12–15
But when Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters. And they led them safely out of the city, because of the LORD’s compassion for them.
Jonah going to Nineveh
Jonah 1:3 See also Psalm 119:60; Jonah 1:1–2, Jonah 3:1–3 Jonah obeyed the second time.
Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.
Nothing should delay believers from following Jesus Christ
Matthew 8:21–22 parallel Luke 9:59–60 See also Matthew 9:9; Mark 1:20; Luke 14:15–24, Luke 19:5–6
Another of His disciples requested, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
People should not delay in the matter of salvation
Isaiah 55:6 See also Amos 6:3; Acts 24:24–26; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews 2:3
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
Believers are not to delay in fulfilling their vows to God and obligations to others
Ecclesiastes 5:4 See also Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 23:21; Psalm 61:8
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow.
Examples of human responses to delay
Sarah's wrong response brought trouble
Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to Abram to be his wife. And he slept with Hagar, and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I delivered my servant into your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me.” “Here,” said Abram, “your servant is in your hands. Do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled from her.
Saul's wrong response cost him the kingship
1 Samuel 13:11–12 See also 1 Samuel 13:8–10, 1 Samuel 13:13–14
“What have you done?” Samuel asked. And Saul replied, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me, and that you did not come at the appointed time and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will descend upon me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”
Jacob responded with patience
Paul responded by giving instructions to Timothy
Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
Daniel responded by praying
Daniel 9:19 See also Daniel 9:1–23, Daniel 10:10–13 Gabriel explains the reason for the delay.
O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people bear Your name.”
David reponded by calling on the LORD
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.