Scripture is full of people who were waiting. When we read their stories in the present, the waiting period is a sentence or two, and in most accounts, we are not told all that happens in the wait. But think about the waiting periods for each example below. They are not short and yet each faithfully (for the most part!) waited for the Lord to deliver them or make good on His promise. And, spoiler, He did!
-Noah waited for the rain to stop while in the ark, 40 days and 40 nights. Not to mention how many years he waited for the first drop to fall while he built the ark and was called the village crazy man. (Genesis 6-9)
-Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for the promised son. (Genesis 15-17, and 21)
-Jacob waited seven years to marry Rachel and then had to serve her father, Laban, for another seven years. (Genesis 29:20, 30)
-Joseph waited in a prison cell for at least two years to be remembered by the cupbearer who was supposed to tell Pharaoh of Joseph’s dream-interpreting abilities. Joseph waited a total of 13 years to see the dream God had given him fulfilled. (Genesis 37,38,39, 40-50)
-Job waited for God’s answers. (See the book of Job)
-Moses waited 40 years tending his father-in-law’s sheep before the Lord called and equipped him to deliver the Israelites from the hand of Pharoah. (Exodus 2-15)
-Hannah waited and prayed for many years to become a mother. (I Samuel 1-2)
-David waited 15 years after being anointed by Samuel as the king of Israel to assume the throne. He was also fleeing for his life from Saul while leading Saul’s army to victory. (I Samuel 16; 19; 21; 24; 26; 2 Samuel 1)
-Daniel waited a long night in the lion’s den for deliverance. (Daniel 6)
The waiting is never wasted. God had a purpose for each person and we can easily see the work God did in the wait—work that could only be accomplished during that season and in His perfect timing. When we stop to consider the amount of waiting and the amount of faith required by these examples to trust God, I pray we find hope and that their stories strengthen our faith while we strive to remain faithful during our own season of waiting.
Comments