Tuesday Reflection -October 19, 2021

God waits to be gracious to us.

In Isaiah 30 God challenged Israel for their obstinate or stubborn behavior. They are feeling threatened by the advance of the Assyrians from the north. In response they look to forming an alliance with Egypt in the south so they could repel the attacks of the advancing Assyrians. Egypt however has been conquered by Ethiopia which means they are nowhere as strong as Israel and Judah thinks. The prophetic voice of Isaiah at this time calls on the people to trust God but because of their disobedience, because they chose to trust the Egyptians over the God who has always sustained them, they will meet nothing but trouble from the advancing army. They would be defeated but their hope lay in the text for today. The Lord waits to be gracious to you. Isaiah 30: 18

To be gracious is to show mercy and compassion. When the prophet said that the Lord waits to be gracious, he was telling Israel and Judah that God would wait to show favor and kindness to them when they repented. God often allows us to follow our own will and way, even though this will lead to our loss. We are not forced into servitude, but our serving God is a choice which we are left to make. In mercy God waits on us to repent and return to Him. When we do, God extends to us His grace. It does not matter what we have done or where we have been. God’s grace is available to all repentant hearts. God waits to be gracious to us.

Today I ask you to allow God’s purpose to be fulfilled in your life. It may not be according to your timing or liking, but God is all seeing, and all knowing and makes plans for you in accordance. We may not be able to see or understand, but God knows. Israel and Judah were only able to see the advancing armies that were coming at them, but God knew that if they trusted Him, they would be saved. This is the same God who had defeated the armies of the Moabites, Edomites and Ammonites as they marched against Israel. (2 Chronicles 20) While Israel sang God’s praises, God took care of their enemies. We may only see our struggles at this moment, but God is looking at the bigger picture. His plan, His outcome is guaranteed to restore our hope and trust in Him. When we trust God and give Him our praises, He will silence and defeat our enemies. Isaiah 12: 2 calls us to remember that our God saves. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. God waits to be gracious to us. Amen.