Joshua 21:45 –
Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.
This always is interesting how God works and His timing. Think about the promise God made with the people of Israel and when it was made. Abram and all the original people the promise was made to in the first place are long gone. Yet the promise was kept to the people of Israel, every one of them. I wonder if someone came to you and promised something major, but then said it would go to your great great grandchildren you would just let it go? Or would you keep that fire and desire for the promise alive in the family?
Think about it, Abraham’s son, Isaac who grandson Joseph was exiled to Egypt to start the hundreds of years in bondage. Then after this Moses led them from Egypt, where they blew the first chance to enter and they wandered for 40 years. After this they still had to work to get the land, it wasn’t just given to them. So at least 6 generations passed between the promises and the Lord fulfilling each one.
I read this and think how we tend to get upset when a pray goes unanswered in a week or two. Really could we hold on to a promise for that long? I honest believe I am destined to return our families wealth lost in the great depression. Was this a promise from God or just a crack pot idea brewed up in my head? Hind sight is always 20/20 and I saw the Lottery as being the saving “grace” for restoring the family’s fortune, since I was too short sighted to see the blessings in front of me.
I can go on and on, from not savings as a young man and build the empire one brick at a time. To passing up talking with a “start-up” that was within walking distance from my home, because it seemed like too much risk. Their name is Cisco! Or selling the shop during the good times, because I thought it would only get better. Or selling some options I had from a previous start up and holding them as they slid to nothing again. God may bless us with a “windfall” but I think my lesion is clear and I must work at it slowly. This is why I have ended 20+ years of playing the lottery and focusing of getting out of debt and building on that.
They key is if the promise was from God it will be honored, just may take a few generations!