An interesting example of God's timing.

I found this kind of interesting.  If you have walked with the Lord for any amount of time you have probably experienced the issue of God's timing.  There are things for example that we pray for and it doesn't happen, doesn't happen, doesn't happen, but we keep praying and all of a sudden it happens.  I believe that is an example of God just telling us the time wasn't right yet.

So take a look at this.

Acts 16:6-10(NKJV)

Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 

After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 

So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 

Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

What I found interesting is that we know Scripture tells us it is God's will that all be saved who believe in Jesus.  We also know from Scripture that God wants His Word spread around the world.  So why when one of God's most ardent disciples is on the border, ready to preach the Word to a whole new culture does God say "Hold up there.  I forbid you to go preach my word to those people." 

Why would He do that do you think?  We know that the word is eventually preached throughout Asia and millions are saved but why did God stop Paul from doing any of it?

I can think of a couple reasons but I think mainly it comes down to God's timing of the execution of His plan.  God had a specific mission field and plan for Paul.  I'm sure that even way back then God already knew who he was going to send in to Asia and when they were going to go.  It may have been decades in the future but God had it planned out.

God's timing is everything!