What does it mean that “He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)?

Response

“Timing is crucial.” This is a principle that comedians, campaign managers, and marketing directors abide by. It suggests that there is always an opportune moment to introduce an idea or take action, in order to optimize the desired impact.

In various fields, when one’s timing is off, the chances of success are reduced.

“God’s perfect timing” is a facet of divine sovereignty. In God’s perfect timing, He acts only when it is most favorable for His purposes in His kingdom. With His omniscience, the Lord observes all that is happening in the world at any given moment—comprising countless details that only the Spirit of God can fully comprehend.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon states, “He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time” «He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. », (Ecclesiastes 3:11). What does this signify, particularly concerning God’s perfect timing?

The affirmation that God has made everything beautiful in its time is preceded by one of the most renowned passages in Scripture:

“There is a season for everything,

and a time for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

A time to be silent and a time to speak,

A time to love and a time to hate,

A time for war and a time for peace” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

In 1965, the folk rock band The Byrds recorded a song, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” that used a portion of this passage and helped contribute to its recognition in pop culture.

Solomon follows his catalog of human experience with the statement that God, in His sovereignty, has made everything beautiful in its time. That is, He optimizes the outcome of all things, both what He has made and the products of mankind’s activity— even the more challenging aspects of human suffering. He does this in a way that is not only glorifying to Him but healing to those who look to Him for peace, purpose, and salvation. In the words of commentator Joseph Benson, God will work all things out “so that, all things considered, it could not have been better” (Commentary on the Old and New Testaments).

There are a multitude of scriptural passages that indicate the perfection and beauty of God’s timing:

“When the set time was fully come, God sent His Son” «but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, », (Galatians 4:4). Jesus introduced his ministry with the words, “The time has come” «and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. », (Mark 1:15). And we have the promise that “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” Romans 8:28 (NLT; see also Genesis 21:2; Isaiah 46:10; Isaiah 60:22; Habakkuk 2:3; Matthew 24:36; Matthew 26:18; John 7:6; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Ephesians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:1; 1 Peter 5:6-7; 2 Peter 3:8; Revelation 1:1).

From a human perspective, God’s timing often does not seem perfect, and it’s hard to see how the events of the world can ever be made “beautiful.” Consider the disappointed reactions of Mary and Martha when Jesus arrived four days after their brother died—after He deliberately delayed His arrival (John 11:1-44).

We are admonished repeatedly in the Bible to “wait on the Lord” (e.g., Psalm 27:14; Hebrews 6:15). Peter tells us to not forget that “with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness” «But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. », (2 Peter 3:8). If we are patient and wait on the Lord, we will eventually see the beauty of God’s handiwork—all in His perfect timing.