Trusting God. Waiting. Trusting that He is working even when we can't see it. These subjects have come up frequently lately in my own life and in the lives of my friends. What does the Bible say about waiting? What examples are there in the Bible about God working while people are waiting?
Various verses about waiting in the Bible:
Genesis 49:18 - waited for salvation - Jacob in final speech
Psalms 25:3 - Wait on God, be not ashamed.
Psalms 27:14 - God will strengthen you
Psalms 37:7 - Wait on the Lord; He will not fail!
Psalms 37:34 - He shall exalt thee.
Psalms 40:1 - Wait for Him; He will hear!
Psalms 59:9 - God is our defence.
Psalms 62:5 - Expectation is from Him.
Psalms 106:13 - What happens when we don't wait on His timing - disaster!
Psalms 123:2 - Wait for His mercy.
Psalms 130:5-6 - Wait and hope in the Lord!
Isaiah 8:17 - Wait for the Lord when it appears there is no hope.
Isaiah 25:9 - God will come!
Isaiah 30:18 - Sometimes God waits in order to be exalted.
Isaiah 33:2 - He will take care of those who wait on Him.
Isaiah 40:31 - Wait on Him; strength renewed.
Lamentations 3:25-26 - God is good to those that wait on Him and seek Him. It is good for us to wait, patiently.
Micah 7:7 - Wait for God when all seems lost.
Zephaniah 3:8 - God as punishing the nation, but they were to wait on Him!
Here are just a few of the many Biblical examples of God working while people were waiting.
- All of mankind. InGenesis 3:15, God foretells of the Messiah that will save us from the penalty of sin. However, the Messiah does not come for 4000 years (Matthew 1:18). God had not forgotten His promise, but was working to bring it to pass.
- Abraham & Sarah. God promises Abram a son inGenesis 12:7. Many years pass, but they do not have a son. Through impatience, Sarah gives her handmaid to Abram to have a son. Yet, God still says that Abram will have a son of Sarah. It is not until he is 100 and Sarah is 90 that the promised son arrives. Because of their ages, it is obvious to all involved that the son is indeed of God. God receives the glory.
- Joseph. As a young man, Joseph dreamed of being ruler over his family. (Genesis 37) Then, the Lord took Joseph through many trials and years of waiting. At one point, he waited in prison for two years for someone to remember him to the king. Yet, God had not forgotten him. God was working in his life to prepare him for a specific purpose and time.
- Children of Israel. The children of Israel were in bondage. (Exodus)They had cried out to God, but were still in bondage. Had God forgotten them? No, He was preparing Moses to free them. In the waiting time, He was teaching and training Moses. He was also showing them His power over the Egyptians. In the wilderness, He showed His provision and protection. At Jericho, He showed His strength. They could not see it, but God was working behind the scenes all along.
- Mary and Martha. Mary and Martha were very concerned for their brother Lazarus as he was sick unto death. (John 11) They knew that Jesus could heal him. But, Jesus did not come right away when they sent word to Him. Didn't Jesus care? Yes, He cared. It is obvious that He cared; He wept inJohn 11:35. Why then did He wait? He waited to bring glory to God. How much more did those that were there after seeing that Jesus brought Lazarus back from the grave rather than if Jesus had simply healed Him. Wow!
- Believers - waiting for Christ's return! Christ will return for us. (Acts 1 ( 1 Thessalonians 4:16) He is not willing that any should perish. (2 Peter 3:9;James 5:7;Matthew 24:14)
Even as I have been working on this study, some things have come up and I am tempted to despair. Is God hearing? Is He working on these things? Then, the Holy Spirit reminds me of His numerous promises. He reminds me that God is in control. The Scriptures abound with examples of God working in the lives of men when they did not see what He was doing. Sometimes things happen that to us seem bad as when Lazarus died. We must remember that God is there all the time, working these things to His own glory and for our own good.
When we fully put our trust in His sovereign will and way, we learn to wait and rest in Him!
Wait on the Lord!
