The third and fourth time the phrase is used can be found in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah was a prophet of God at the time when the Kingdom of Judah is on the verge of collapse. God’s chosen people and their kings have forsaken God and as a result, the once united Kingdom of Israel was divided. As Judah was now falling under judgment as had the Northern Kingdom, Isaiah wrote: And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him (Isaiah 8:17). Isaiah was not going to wait for God’s personal deliverance in vain, nor was he foolish in deciding to seek God’s will. He knew of the many promises that God had given to anyone that was willing to listen. Isaiah knew the promise given to the children of Israel while in the wilderness: But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul (Deuteronomy 4:29). There is no end date on this promise and it is still just as valid for us as it was for all who followed God in the past. In fact, a similar promise is made to Christians in the New Testament: That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us (Acts 17:27). If we truly seek God’s guidance when we are faced with a decision, He will hear and will answer.
The fourth time the phrase is used is a common passage for many. Again, the prophet Isaiah wrote: 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 40:31). Oh, how easily we will throw this scripture around to others when they are faced with life-changing decisions yet how often do we ignore the promises of this verse in our own life? How often do we exchange the peace that God offers us simply by waiting on Him for the quick and expedient solutions that we come up with that not only prove to be costly but also cause heartache and pain later on? In my own life, I wonder about the blessings and the things that God could have done had I just sought Him before I did anything else. Instead of inheriting the peace that only God can give, I have the scars, heartache, shame, and embarrassments of failure, defeat, and of disobedience. Yes, I have been forgiven for my impatience (a sin) but that does not stop or reduce the consequences of my decisions. Often times we forget that the decisions we make today can have an impact on us years down the road. For that very reason alone, maybe that is why God tells us to wait upon Him.
