Waiting for the Wind
Robert Wurtz II
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:30–31 KJV)
I have taken the unusual course of having three separate, but related, texts for this entry. First, Isaiah reminding us that the energy of youth is not sufficient for the people of God. They must have what we may call a “perpetual renewable energy source.” Long before wind farms dotted the hillsides of modern rural countrysides, the prophet spoke of the eagle that mounted up and soared on the strength of the wind.
Second, we have Habakkuk who had made a lamentation to the Lord and then stood, watched, and waited for God to speak to Him. Habakkuk lived in difficult times. He was moving in a very limited understanding of reality and needed insight that comes from God alone. Trouble and confusion is always a call to prayer rather than action.
Third, Peter reminds us that when we minister we must speak the oracles of God. This means we are to serve God’s words to the people and not some other “words.” Ministers sometimes get into the pulpit with what amounts to human wisdom or psychology — but these words have no power to accomplish God’s purposes. Moreover, Peter adds, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. We are to minister with God’s enabling and not our own strength.
Waiting on the Lord
Waiting on the Lord in times past has sometimes degenerated into an excuse for inaction. People have taken the attitude, “when God gets ready to move me — He will move me.” But this is not what waiting on the Lord is. The Hebrew word for “wait” is sometimes translated “to look.” This is not a passive attitude, but one of longing and anticipation. They who wait upon the Lord are watching as Habakkuk to see what the Lord will say to them. They earnestly wait for instructions from Him and then respond rightly.
Think of the angels in heaven. How do you suppose they wait on the Lord? We have a clue in the Lord’s prayer, Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10 NKJV) Heaven is filled with creatures who long to receive God’s will and then perform it. Nobody resists God’s will in heaven. Everyone willingly performs His bidding. They know first hand that this is the right path so they don’t bother entertaining others.
Waiting in the Wind
God will not long leave His people to wait for direction when they have determined to “wait” upon Him (serve Him). There is much to be done, but we cannot proceed in our own energy and our own understanding. We need God to supply both His oracles and ability (enabling) for His own glory. This is the pattern in the Kingdom of God. Men may bring their words in their own strength to accomplish their ends; but these are works of hay, wood, and stubble. We are working an eternal kingdom and so we must have resources that originate in eternity.
When the wind of the Holy Spirit lifts us into His will we can soar like an eagle. Other birds may weary themselves in self-efforts — flapping their wings in a frenzy, but they who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles. This is where the power resides. This is how the Kingdom comes. This is how God’s will can be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven. When we move according to the revelation of God and in the power of God we exchange our strength for His strength.
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