One of the most common questions I am asked as it related to the Old Testament is “what was the point?” The question means: “If God was going to save the world through Jesus, then why did we have all those years with the Old Law and the animal sacrifices, etc…?”

It’s a perfectly reasonable question, and there is a perfectly Biblical answer.

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

Basically, Paul says that Jesus came at exactly the right time. The phrase “fullness of time” implies that there was a kind of countdown clock going on in the mind of the Father, and when that clock reached it’s last second (when the “time” was “full”), the Savior was born and the plan of Salvation was put into effect.

Yes there was a LOT of time between the first promise of salvation (Genesis 3:15) and it’s occurrence. A LOT of time passed between the promise made to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) and the fulfillment of that promise. But there was a reason: God had a plan and it was going to be executed in exactly the right way and in exactly the right time.

Everything had to fall into place so that the Messiah would be born under the right conditions (a baby born in Bethlehem), raised under the right environment (in Nazareth), taught under the right circumstances (the Pharisaical-corruption of first century Judea), and killed under the right method (Roman-style crucifixion). All of those events happened in connection to prophesy…prophesies that were made throughout that LONG period of Old Testament time while the world was waiting on the Messiah.

It can be hard for us to appreciate because we are a very “now now now” oriented culture, but God is a patient Being, and He calls for us to be patient as well. Those who are…

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Trust in God and in His plans. He’s never misfired on executing one before.