ENDURING TILL THE END—NO QUICK FIX

ü  Luk 1:80  And the child grew and became strong in character, and lived in the Desert 

till the time came for him to appear publicly to Israel (Weymouth)

ü  Luk 1:80  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel (KJV)

ü  Ecc 3:1  Everything on earth has its own time and its own season (CEV)

ü  Ecc 3:11  He hath made everything beautiful in his time… (KJV)

During the weekend when we were attending a friend father’s interment, two events happened in a quick succession that really spoke to my heart.

First, when we got to the town we were unsure of the direction to his house, then we made a stop to read a banner made for that occasion and initiated a call to him. We were unaware that we were actually in-front of his house.

Second, we were to buy a phone car charger, so we moved towards the market. Unable to get what we desire from the first vendor, we decided to go back because we were not certain of the distance to the main market from the place where we were. Alas, we gave up when the market was just a minute walk away from where we turned back!    

Brethren, we are living in a very challenging period of human history: at point our society is beset and characterized by quick-fix, ready-made and impatient attitude! Nobody wants to stay on the queue waiting for his own turn. We all desire to be called first even when we do not merit being in the premier position because we lack the required training and experience. Today, many parents wants their children to be graduates at age sixteen and become PhD holders at twenty, so, they break the chain-process of primary and secondary education. Such children eventually are lacking the psychological and emotional stamina to stand strong against the storms and winds of the society.  

And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, TWO NATIONS ARE IN THY WOMB, AND TWO MANNER OF PEOPLE SHALL BE SEPARATED FROM THY BOWELS; AND THE ONE PEOPLE SHALL BE STRONGER THAN THE OTHER PEOPLE; AND THE ELDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER (Genesis 25:20-23).

Apparently, God had appointed Jacob, the younger to be the head, the one whom the elder, Esau will serve. How this will come to fulfilment was unknown to Rebekah and Jacob, whom his mother had told the prophecy. However, since it was an opaque idea to the mother and the child, they both devised human means to established God’s promise. First, Jacob took Esau’s birth right by stealth and craftiness (Genesis 25:29-34) and with the aid of the mother, he deceived his father Isaac and took Esau’s blessing (Genesis 27:1-46). He was arranged to stay with Laban away from Esau who desired to kill him. It is assumed Jacob was blessed in the land. But this is what Jacob said about his host, Laban: And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me (Genesis 31:7). Jacob lacked the courage to go back to his father’s house even when her mother died.  He went through hell to meet his brother in Genesis 32. He was unsure of what Esau might do. Remember, The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22). Yahweh's blessing brings wealth, And he adds no trouble to it (Weymouth). Let me quickly speak about waiting in relation to Esther:

Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her. So Esther was taken to king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. The king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti (Esther 2:15-17)

Esther waited 10 months before her turn to appear before the king. She patiently waited for her time. Although she was favoured among all but never used the favour to make quick-fix appearance before the king. She doesn’t require anything else except what was appointed unto others. She waited in faith.

Brothers and sisters, enduring is not a curse. It is a virtue. Those who wait on God will have their strength renewed (Isaiah 40:31). David, although anointed to take the place of Saul waited for over 13 years. He did not plan or stage a coup to overthrow Saul. He endured and waited for divine enthronement.

We must decide to ASK for the old path. Never take decision out of impulse and transient emotional surge. We must endure till the end. We cannot afford to lose hope when we are close to the climax of our journey.  

The cross before me. The world behind me. No turning back.