But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. Galatians 4:4-5 NLT
During the Christmas season we hear many referrals to the "400 years of silence,” the period between the Old and New Testaments during which there were apparently no prophets speaking and no new Scripture revealed. We often mistake stillness or perceived silence from God to mean He has forgotten us, is punishing us, doesn’t care, or at the very least is doing nothing about our situation. This period of time was far from inactive, however. It was marked by significant political, social, and religious upheaval, including the conquests of Alexander the Great, the rise of the Maccabees, and the Roman takeover of Judea. Instead of God taking a break from caring about us, what if it was a time of God's preparation for the arrival of Christ, our Savior?
The Persian and Greek empires declined, and the Roman Empire rose to eventually control the region. By the time Jesus came, Rome had brought cultural peace. This gave Rome roads and ease for travel, making it much easier to spread the gospel. Greek was the common language. Groups like the Sadducees and Pharisees emerged in the Jewish faith. Synagogues also developed during this time as new centers for worship and community. There was considerable conflict and persecution, which caused the yearning and prayers for the Messiah to burgeon, and developed people like Simeon and Anna, the two elderly people we read about in Luke 2. They fervently prayed for their nation and for the coming of the Messiah. When He was brought to the Temple for His dedication, they immediately recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of their hope.
This so-called silent period saw the writing of significant texts such as the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament and the reason we have the Old Testament to read today. During that time, significant prophecies were fulfilled that had to happen before the Messiah came. God may not have been speaking in the ways they were accustomed to hearing Him, but He was working. The words, “But when the right time came” mean that this was the specific moment God had planned for Jesus to be born. The time was ripe because religious systems were in place, a common language and culture existed, and Roman peace made travel safe for the gospel's spread. God is always working. When the time is right, we will always see that He is faithful.
- Father, thank You for sending Jesus at just the right time to buy freedom for us. I know that even now You are working in my life to provide just the right thing at just the right time. I choose to trust You and wait in hope. Amen.