Waiting for You
Posted by Karah
Pause
To prepare your heart for God’s Word, listen to and ponder the lyrics of several worship songs about God’s compassion. Consider “Mighty to Save” by Hillsong United.
Read over Isaiah 30:18 several times, even reading it aloud. The prophet Isaiah spoke these words to an unrepentant, rebellious people. Again and again, Isaiah had warned the people of Judah of the destruction and judgment that would come. But in Isaiah 30:18, God spoke to the people through Isaiah and clearly displayed His compassionate nature.
“Therefore the Lord is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion, for the Lord is a just God. All who wait patiently for Him are happy.”
—Isaiah 30:18
Ask yourself:
• God was actively waiting for the people to repent so He could show them His mercy and compassion. He was ready and willing to act as soon as they came to Him. How does this help you to better understand who God is?
• God is a personal, compassionate God, waiting for us to come to Him. How have you seen this aspect of His character in your life?
Respond
Has the Holy Spirit brought to mind something in your life you need to repent of as you’ve studied this passage? God is waiting for you. How will you respond? Record your thoughts or prayers.
• For further study, read the Book of Jonah. Jonah ran from God, but God compassionately pursued and rescued him.
Behind the Story
The phrase “all who wait patiently for Him are happy” in verse 18 has a dual meaning. In context, Isaiah was telling the people of Judah that blessings would come to all who expectantly waited for God to rescue them from the Assyrians. For us, “those who wait” refers to faithful believers who don’t rush ahead of God to find our own solutions to problems, but instead seek God and wait with hope, expecting Him to act.
The Point
God is holy and just, but He is also compassionate and ready to respond with mercy the moment we come to Him in repentance.
Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Weekly Devotions