When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
Hebrews 6:13-15
Background
The Lord promised an heir to Abraham years before. And the waiting must have been excruciating. It often is. Year after year there was no child with Sarah to show for it. But the promise remained. As did the waiting. And more waiting.
As Abraham was approaching 100 years old and Sarah 90 years old, angels visited on their way to scout Sodom and Gomorrah. The promise had not yet been realized. The angels provided another reminder. A child would be borne to Sarah within a year. Sarah laughed and thought the angel’s comment a bit absurd.
Abraham patiently waited. And Isaac was borne. Decades after God’s initial promise. But delivered in a glorious fashion.
Reflections
We live in a culture that increasingly values speed. Industries have emerged that respond to these cultural trends. Fast food. Quick shopping and check outs. Quick ATM and online banking. Quick answers on line. Time is a precious commodity. We have expectations for speed. I do.
And our societal expectations can easily transfer to a similar speed lane expectation for God. Why is it taking so long? God, have you forgotten? I’m desperate. And you have yet to answer. Could you please accelerate the pace here?
- A family member needs your saving grace
- My friend’s medical diagnosis needs your intervention
- My addiction needs healing
- My work situation is desperate
And we often wait.
And yet we should remember that waiting in many cases seems to be a biblical standard operating procedure. Abraham waited. Noah waited. Moses waited. Joseph waited. Mary and Martha waited for Jesus to heal Lazarus. Even the disciples waited and prayed for the Holy Spirit.
All too often it seems that answers come later…but God’s timing is never late. It is always perfect. Not necessarily in satisfying our desire for a quick resolution. But in designing a tapestry that brings the most glory to Him.
Lord, I am not good at waiting. I get impatient and frequently want relief and answers quickly. Help us all to remember your faithfulness. And that you are good. And you have this. And that you typically work through a process. Often a longer process than we would like. Help us to be patient and to persevere in our waiting. Not to give up and lose faith if our expectation for an immediate fix doesn’t materialize. Amen.
What if we truly invited God to do a work in us in the waiting process versus frequently looking for a quick fix?
What if we persevered in our faithfulness to God even for decades, if necessary, as many of the biblical characters above did?
What if... 