Isaiah 8:16-17

After we are told to fear God in verses 11-15, Isaiah tells us what he is going to do. "I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him" (v17, ESV). After all that Isaiah has seen of God and heard from him, he has confidence to wait for and hope in the LORD. What do they mean--wait for and hope in? To wait for anyone really, is to acknowledge that they will come, though you don't know when. Let's flip the phrase around some: "I can't wait for him (or you)." What does this mean? It means that whatever you need to do, it's more important to get it done, than to wait for help. It implies that you don't need help with the task. But to wait for someone until they come, no matter how long, implies that no matter what, you cannot complete, or maybe even start, the task on your own. "I will wait for the LORD." However long it takes, Isaiah is going to wait for the God. Now does this mean waiting idlely, doing nothing until he comes? Not at all. Rather, it means we should busy ourselves with preparation, while we wait (see Luke 12:13-21), doing what we can, where we are at, but never doing any more until our help arrives.

"I will...hope in the LORD." Where do you put your hope? Do you put it in things that will not last? Do you put it in people who will let you down? In feelings that will come and go? In objects that will break and will have to be replaced? Or do you hope in the only constant in an ever changing world? The only Rock who not just was in the beginning, but who was the beginning; the One who created the universe with just a spoken word? Remeber, God is THE all powerful Creator who has everything in control. Nothing made was not made by him (John 1) and nothing happens with out his approval. The Great I Am is more than the only one we can fully and unreservedly place all our hope in. He is the only one worthy of having hope placed in him. Isaiah knew this well.

God will come through; he will show his face to the righteous, to his beloved children. But for a time, we may need to just wait for him and hope in him, just like Isaiah, with the confidence that God will come. Patience my friend, patience.