As we read the Old Testament and all the times God promised to send a Messiah, Jesus' entrance into the world can seem like it took FOREVER. We read from Adam and Eve to Noah to David and on into the minor prophets, and God's people were yearning all along for a Savior, waiting on His arrival. Then, between the books of Malachi and Matthew were 400 years of silence, and God's people were just waiting.
Why did God wait so long?
This is one of those questions that we just don't have Scripture that answers it directly, but we can infer that God was working in hearts all along, pointing them to want to love and obey Him and that Jesus came at God's perfect time.
Similarly, many ask today why God is waiting so long to send Jesus back to earth to make all things right, and in the same way, God is being so merciful - giving more time for those who do not trust Him to turn from their wicked ways and obey Him (2 Peter 3:9). We look forward to that day, and we celebrate His entrance into the world as God the Son - God with skin on to live among us - His perfect life that He lived out in our place - His death on the cross to pay what we deserved to pay for sin - and His resurrection and ultimately ascension, proving that death was defeated and that He has secured a right relationship with God for all who trust Him. Hallelujah! The depth of our sin was so deep, but God's grace was still deeper.
