We are part of a movement of reformation. This involves a glorious transformation of character to come into harmony with the will of God. Radical change - drastic improvement - is to be seen as a healthy fruit of this work.

On the other hand, what isimprovisation? In the realm of music, this is when a musician abandons the printed page and comes up with spontaneous ideas based on the same theme. Such music may turn out excellent, but in the spiritual realm, this can spell big trouble. Why? Because the printed page is in this case the Word of God, and the blueprint never to be abandoned is His perfect law of liberty, the Ten Commandments.

Picture the scene: Abraham - who was to be known as the father of the faithful - had been promised a son. Time passed and nothing happened.

. . . More time passed and still nothing happened. . . .

Finally, Abraham’s wife, Sarah, made a suggestion on how to improvise on fulfilling God’s plan. It seemed like a simple solution: Just have Abraham’s promised son come through Hagar, the servant of Sarah rather than through Sarah herself. Why not? What difference would that make? . . . Well, it made quite a difference. Yes, God had a plan to give Abraham a son. But it was not His plan to accomplish His will by breaking His own law!

Jacob was the intended one to receive the promised birthright from his father, Isaac. The angel of the Lord had promised it to Rebekah, the mother of Jacob. Yet Isaac did not seem to be getting the message. Now the time had come when Isaac was getting very old and seemed likely to die soon. He needed to present this birthright before his death. The situation seemed rather urgent, so Jacob and his mother decided to improvise on how to accomplish God’s plan. There was only one problem: Their idea involved deceit - a violation of the ninth commandment of the Decalogue. Many years of suffering would come to them as a result of choosing this route. Yet, to their surprise, Isaac did not die so soon. Eventually, he may very well have come around to understanding God’s intention for Jacob and have gladly taken the initiative to pass the birthright to him. If only Rebekah and Jacob had just waited patiently for Isaac to see the light. . . . Hindsight is better than foresight - a word to the wise.

Moses was called by God to deliver the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt. The call was clear, so why shouldn’t Moses jump ahead and get started by taking matters into his own hands and slay an Egyptian? The answer is: Because this improvisation was not the way God wanted the task to be done. Moses was to suffer many years because of his hasty move. Let us learn the lesson!

Now, “to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life” (Romans 2:7), there is indeed a lesson for us to learn. We need patience in well-doing. Too often, when we learn of God’s plan, we rush to improvise on how to carry it out without waiting on His timing.

When it comes to reformation, are we too often like the proverbial bull in the china shop? Full of zeal, do we sometimes rush through delicate, breakable objects such as human hearts to try to convince people of God’s will? Or, on the other hand, may some be among those who, also like hardheaded bulls, stubbornly refuse the message?

“The Lord gave Jeremiah a message of reproof to bear to his people, charging them with the continual rejection of God’s counsel: [Jeremiah 35:14, 15 quoted.] . . .

“In these days He has instituted no new plan to preserve the purity of His people. As of old, He entreats the erring ones who profess His name to repent and turn from their evil ways.”1

A work of reform must indeed be done. But God’s work must be done God’s way - with the patience of the saints.

“The servants of God should manifest a tender, compassionate spirit and show to all that they are not actuated by any personal motives in their dealings with the people, and that they do not take delight in giving messages of wrath in the name of the Lord. But they must never flinch from pointing out the sins that are corrupting the professed people of God, nor cease striving to influence them to turn from their errors and obey the Lord.”2

So let’s not improvise on how we carry out God’s will. He has a holy law to be uplifted and upheld - and a tender Saviour to empower us on how to keep it. “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14).