Waiting On God

It has been often said that “patience is a virtue” and yet how many of us have mastered the art of waiting? We live a culture today that is always in a hurry. One trip on the roads and highways of our nation reveals the truth of this statement. Try driving the speed limit sometime and you will soon learn that, yes, we are all in a hurry.

As I continue to study the Old Testament and am currently in Genesis, I am amazed at the relevance of the lessons being taught in this ancient text. This morning I read the story of Abram and Sarai and how they responded to their perceived lack of urgency in God fulfilling His promise. If you aren’t familiar with the story you can find it in Genesis chapter 16. Basically God promised Abram that He would bless him with a child and through that child Abram would become the father of a great nation. Abram hits about 85 years old and starts to doubt. Sarai does more than doubt, she starts looking for her own solution as we read from Genesis 16:2 which says, “And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.”

I actually like the way the HCSB translation states her plan. It translates her to say, “…Perhaps through her I can build a family.” You know this is possibly one of the greatest mistakes our culture makes today. We try and build a family OUR way. In our youth we get into marriages that are not built upon the foundation upon which God intends us to. Divorce and the act of child bearing without benefit of marriage have destroyed the American family. In far too many families there is no father or his role is greatly diminished. Even in good, Christian marriages we are listening to man’s psychology, instead of simply applying God’s Word to how we live and how we raise a family. The truth is we do not listen to the wisdom God has provided us in His Holy Word. We think we need to do it OUR way. We believe our happiness is more important than bringing glory to God by committing ourselves to each other as parents and staying married. The truth is we don’t believe God’s promises any more than Sarai did. We have a lack of faith.

There is a very important truth that we must implant into our hearts. Get ready because it is a hard scripture.

Romans 14:23
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

Pop out the last phrase of that reading. It says whatever is not from faith is sin. Anytime we step out of faith in God and His Word we are sinning. Let that sink in.

There is some really good news in the rest of the story as found in Genesis 16. You see the bad news of our sinful nature is counteracted by God’s immeasurable grace and mercy. Get ready, because here it comes.

Romans 5:20
The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.

God’s grace will abound even in the midst of our sinfulness, but only if we recognize our sin and take it to God. 1 John 1:9 instructs us that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

None of this is a license to sin. Even though God’s grace and mercy will carry us through, the consequences of sin can and often are terrible. The son that came from the loins of Abram and Hagar, Ishmael, would become the father of another great nation of many people. From Ishmael would come the Arabs and they were and continue to be the source of great trouble for the nation Israel. The sins we commit today have a definite effect on our peace and on the peace of our generations to come.

Read the story of Abram and Sari and search out the great lessons in it for us as Christians. We must wait on the Lord. We must concern ourselves with what brings Glory to God, instead of what we think we need or want. And if we want peace and joy, then we must obey God’s Word.

I leave you with a scripture about waiting. My wife gave me a little visor pin many years ago when we were struggling through some hard times and it seemed as if God was never going to act.  On it was this verse.

Isaiah 40:31
 But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Are you weary friend? Feeling tired and weak? Cry out to Jesus. He will answer you but you must be patient. You can trust in Him.

Isaiah 40:28-29
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.