Join us every Saturday, Monday, and Thursday for study sessions!

Head to our Locations page to find an STBM Center near you.

Interested in learning more?

Keep that study alive by checking out our ICTS™ registration page!

Want more of…this?

Watch Ralph Messer anywhere and anytime with our RRM™ Subscription!

Understanding Time: A Deeper Flow of Energy

Time is not just a backdrop—it’s a dynamic force. Time is not simply a neutral medium we move through; time is energy. It’s not simply a calendar flipping over or a clock ticking away; time is alive, flowing in currents that carry events and possibilities into existence.

To truly understand the cycles of the year—like Passover in the spring—we need to grasp this deeper idea of time. Events don’t define time; instead, time determines the events. Passover didn’t happen in the spring by chance. It happened because that specific time of year holds the energy for freedom and transcendence. That energy was flowing, and the Children of Israel rode the wave.

But what does this mean for us practically? How can this understanding of time transform our lives?

The Two Dimensions: Theory and Practice

The concept of time has two key components:

  1. Theoretical Understanding: What is time? What energy does it carry?
  2. Practical Application: What can you do with this understanding?

In business, timing is everything. You plan investments, assess risks, and decide when to move forward or pull back. In our spiritual lives, the same is true. There are moments when energies align—when certain decisions, actions, or reflections are not only appropriate but necessary. Missing those moments means missing the wave entirely.

Imagine trying to surf when there’s no wave. It’s futile. The same applies to life: When the wave of time is rising, we must be ready to act.

Time as a Cause, Not a Stage

Time is causative; it makes things happen. It’s not an empty stage where life plays out. Instead, it ripples with energy, bringing specific opportunities into being.

For example, Passover is not celebrated in the spring because of historical nostalgia (a longing someone has for a time period in history that they never personally got to experience); it’scelebrated during that time because that’s when it had to happen. According to Jewish writings, Abraham, centuries before the Exodus, ate matzah (unleavened bread) during Passover. He understood the world’s spiritual currents; he recognized that this time of year calls for simplicity, transcendence, and freedom—even before the Exodus from Egypt took place. The energy was already there.

Riding the Waves of Time

Just as a surfer waits for the perfect wave, we must learn to align ourselves with the flow of time’s energy. There are windows of opportunity, moments when the divine currents align with our actions. If we move at the right time, we ride the wave. If we hesitate, we miss it.

The Torah beautifully expresses this idea: “And Moses wrote their goings forth, stage by stage, by the commandment of the LORD; and these are their stages at their goings forth” (JPS 1917, Numbers 33:2). This seemingly redundant phrasing teaches us that while we think we’re heading toward a specific goal, in truth, we’re being guided to where we need to be.

Listening for the Call

In life, we must move forward, trust the flow, and align ourselves with divine timing. There will come moments—perhaps subtle, perhaps urgent—when you will hear a call: Whoever is for God, come to me. It’s the same call Moses cried out in the desert, rallying those who would stand for holiness and purpose (Exodus 32:26).

When you hear that call, run. Don’t hesitate. Opportunities in time—like the currents of a wave—won’t wait for you.

The Spiral of Time

Time is like a spiral, ascending higher with every cycle. For example, Passover is revisited year after year, but each year at a higher level.

In your own personal life, each time the wave rises, you have a new opportunity to connect, to act, and to grow. The question is: Will you ride the wave?

The Final Message: Be Ready

Life’s journey demands sensitivity to time’s flow. Know when to act. Know when to wait. And when the call comes, don’t hesitate.

The currents of time are always moving. Be ready to ride the wave.