Isaiah 40: 27-31
"WORTH THE WAIT"
[Isaiah 55:8-9]
Universally it is complained that God is unjust, and usually the person making the complaint believes that God is unjust toward him personally. Is it an accurate statement that God is unjust? If so, why is God unjust? Is it because He does not care, or because He lacks sufficient strength or ability to do all that needs doing?
Isaiah states that in as much as God is not only the Creator but also the Sustainer of all things, including the heavens, nations, and individual persons, how can people consider that it is God who has forsaken them? How can persons who are by nature weak and sinful claim that the righteous, benevolent, all knowing, all powerful Judge is unjust?
It is not God who has forsaken men but men have forsaken God! Yet those who wait on the Lord, in faithful assurance that God can and will keep His promises, will find the strength and support to perform the tasks of life all the way to its end.
I. God Does It His Way, 27-29.
II. The Faithful Find His Way, 30-31.
The prophet begins addressing a series questions to the people in verse 27. "Why will you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel"
The uncompleted action tense of the verb in Hebrew indicates that they have said it in the past, are saying it in the present and will say it in the future. Why doesn’t God take action to right situations is a continual complaint that we will see has no just grounds.
The two names of the patriarch are both given. Jacob means deceiver, supplanter, and is his name before his conversion. Israel means the God ruled one and is the name God gave him after his wrestling experience with God when he was finally saved. The meaning is that both the lost and the saved say the same thing about God. Why doesn’t God act? Is it because He is unwilling or because He is unable?
The thoughts of men continue in verse 27 with "My way is hidden from the Lord,"
The term way is the common figure for course, pattern, manner or direction of life. My way refers to their self-centered focus of life. They believe that the world should revolve around them and since it obviously isn’t, something must be wrong. They complain about it to God and nothing seems to happen so obviously God is not seeing them or their situation for what it is. They are trying to get God to see things from their perspective, and God is trying to get them to see things from His. They want God to do things their way when God wants them to do things His way.
Their complaint continues (27c), "And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God"
The idea is that their just cause is forgotten, neglected or dismissed by the Judge. It is a universal complaint which arises in times of difficulty and adversity. It is the notion that since I am correct, vindication of my problems would come about if God brought real justice. The person is skeptical and despondent believing God is not fulfilling His promises to him. Thus in reality they are saying God is unjust.
This form of unbelief is familiar to the personal experience of all believers and God acknowledging lost people of all ages. It comes when one doubts God’s goodness and/or His ability to fulfill His promises. It comes from a pride that says we know more what God should do than He does.
The accusation is that God either does not know His job as Judge, cannot do the job, is too tired for it, is not aware, or that He does not care.
As Abraham though we affirm, "shall not the Judge of all the earth do right (Gen. 18:25)? He will not do anything that is unfair, untrue, or inappropriate by taking all of a matter into consideration. A creator who know the names of all the stars (v. 26) certainly knows the problems of His people. A creator who made the constellations certainly has the capacity to deal with our concerns.
The prophet’s response to man centered observations begins in verse 28. "Do you not know? Have you not heard?"
Isaiah’s response is a double question which sets forth the folly of such despondent thoughts or attitude. God has been, is, and will be readily available for those who will listen and learn.
He then affirms who our God is. "The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired."
God does not tire neither can He tire like a man who lacks nourishment nor does He become weary like a man who is exhausted by over-exertion. He created the limits and bounds. Limits and bounds did not define Him and do not hold Him.
Nothing is beyond the range of His vision or the domain of His power. The God that created all is the same God, never changing and still possessing and manifesting the power which He displayed in creation. God’s delay never means a lack of awareness or a lack of ability.
He is the God of eternity and YAHWEH is the Eternal God. He has no beginning and no ending. He is eternal in all His attributes and eternally watches over His people and creation.
"His understanding is inscrutable," (meaning unfathomable, not easily understood, beyond our ability to judge - discern).
Isaiah 55: 8 & 9 says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways My ways;’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."
The understanding or the wisdom that characterizes God’s ways, which are the basis for His actions, are such that man cannot fathom or comprehend them. Man cannot search out God’s understanding. The mind of man cannot grasp the mind of God. We must simply trust Him and His purposes in light of what He has revealed about Himself. Man as the creature cannot fully comprehend the Creator. (Rom. 11:33-36).
God’s ways are right even though they do not seem to favor us. His ways are right even though we may not be able to comprehend them fully. Man must trust that God’s ways are right and that justice is occurring or will occur both corporately and individually.
I love the story that comes out of slavery day. OLD BLACK MAN went to the revival and was saved. His owner said, "John I hear you got saved last night." "Yes sir," John replied, "I found Jesus as my Lord and Savior and my God." "Don’t you know there is no God", the owner said. "You said it right boss but you just didn’t say enough. You should have said, "There ain’t no God that you know of."
There are a lot of people that don’t know of a God but that does not mean that He is not there.
Verse 29 tells the real truth. "He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power."
God is not the one in need of strength and might, man is. Read 40: 6-8. God is the one who is able. Read 40: 10-15.
Far from being weary Himself, God is the one who gives strength to those who are weary. He is not only strong for Himself but He is the giver of strength to others. Those who may be exhausted through their sufferings and trials are the weary ones and they receive strength from God.
Not only does God give, He gives abundantly. To him who lacks might He increases power or to the incapable He gives ability. We know that He who gives such strength and ability to others must be strong and able Himself.
A SOUTH AMERICAN COMPANY purchased a fine printing press from a firm in the United States. After it had been shipped and completely assembled, the workmen could not get it to operate properly. The most knowledgeable personnel tried to adjust it, but to no avail.
The company finally sent a wire to the manufacturer, asking fora representative to come and fix it. Sensing the urgency of the request, the U.S. firm sent the designer of the press. When he arrived on the scene; the company officials were skeptical because he was young. After discussing the situation, they sent this cable to the manufacturer: "Your man is too young. Send a more experienced person." The reply came back, "He made the machine. Let him fix it!"
Mankind is in a similar situation. Every area of life seems to be in chaos. People don’t know how to "put it all together." Binding habits, enslaving sins, and nagging guilt leave them confused. Man-made plans and panaceas offer little hope.
If this describes your situation, there is an answer. You will find forgiveness, cleansing, peace, and order when Jesus, who has made you, is invited to come in and take control of your life (Col. 1:13-18). The Creator is also your Savior: Let Him fix it. To get you life on the right track, Let the Creator take control.
[Hallelujah! I have found Him Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings–Through His blood I now am saved. --Williams]
II. THE FAITHFUL FIND HIS WAY, 30-31.
"Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly,"
God does not become weary, people do. Furthermore what they have accused God of is the condition of even the stoutest and most vigorous. For the youths intended here are the choicest, those fit for athletic contest or military service. Yet despite their strength and conditioning they nevertheless become weary. Their strength is not unlimited and hence due to exhaustion they stumble.
Our boasting in our strength, be it physical, mental, or spiritual has no foundation. Even at his best, natural man apart from God is doomed to failure and defeat.
A SLOWER GROUP
Many Christians become exhausted by the frantic whirl of modern living. We plan, work, and schedule, hurrying here and there, unaware that we are being fashioned by our own hectic lifestyle. Could it be that we’ve never learned the discipline of slowing down?
I read a cute little story of a first-grader who wondered why her father brought home a briefcase full of work every evening. Her mother explained, "Daddy has so much to do that he can’t finish it all at the office," Well, then," asked the child innocently, "why don’t they put him in a slower group?" Are your children wanting you to be part of a slower group?
Verse 31 tells us how to gain God’s strength to live life His way.
"Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength."
"Yet"-on the other hand- the antithesis for what just went before. It is an entirely different story. What may happen to strong young men does not happen to those who wait on the Lord.
To wait for or expect ( ) implies faith and patience and is used of a servant waiting for their master’s orders.
We are not simply to wait, we are to wait for the Lord. We are to put our trust in Him. We are to put our trust in one person, the Lord. Not in creed or ritual or a convention, or a leader, but in the Lord.
The people described are those who show their confidence in God’s ability and willingness to execute His promises by patiently awaiting their fulfillment. "The just shall live by faith." They have developed dependence on God and a willingness to allow Him to lead or act first.
A result to those who wait upon the Lord is they will gain new strength, or more accurately, they shall exchange strength, changing the strength they have or their worn out efforts for a better strength. They turn in their little pocket batteries and plug in to His dynamo! He has all the strength we need to live life according to His design.
What capacity is possessed by those who wait upon the Lord will be exchanged for strength that is real indeed. Stumbling stones will become stepping blocks as they grow stronger and stronger in faith, and in spiritual strength and might.
[We are not all made to go at the same speed. Some people run on high-powered motors that don’t stop until they burn out. Others must crank their engines to get going, and they never run very fast. Even so, there’s a pace uniquely suited to our own temperament, talents, and energies. When we let ourselves be driven by worry, greed, worldly ambition, and unsatisfied egos, we easily sacrifice priorities, fall into sin, or become emotionally drained.
Life’s race isn’t always won by those who are constantly on the go. It’s won by believers who wait on the Lord to renew their strength. They run and are not weary; they walk and don’t faint. They’ve learned Christ’s secret of living by the Father’s timing.
If you are weary in life’s race
And driven by its hurried pace,
Then learn to wait upon the Lord;
His strength will be your sure reward.
If Christians do no come apart and rest in the Lord regularly, they may just plain come apart.]
Waiting on the Lord is the key to keep on going when you feel like not starting or quitting. What does it mean to wait on the Lord? We must spend time in His presence in worship and prayer. We are prone to be impulsive and rush ahead of God. If we would only wait on the Lord and remain quite in His presence we would find His wisdom and strength. What a difference it makes when we quiet our hearts before God, read His Word, talk to Him in prayer and find His will. Renewing ourselves in relationship with God connects us to a source of strength that transcends this world.
Instead of applying human solutions to human problems we need to learn to wait upon the Lord, to trust in Him as we seek to do His will, according to His Word, by His power.
God gives three magnificent promises to those who wait for Him. Let us look at them more closely. "They will mount up with wings like eagles."
When does the eagle show its great strength - when it pulls upward against the force of gravity. It does this by long powerful strokes. And as the eagle pulls loose from gravity to mount up high into the sky so the people of God will mount up.
They will mount up with strength for the days of responsibility and its demands. They will mount up from the depths of their griefs and difficulties. They will not slump and fall back to earth because of lack of strength to continue but rather with the ease of the eagle they will soar on high, above the mountains, above the storms.
At times God will help us to rise above the problems of life and soar over them. God will give us mountain topping experiences of the eagle wings.
God wants us to be eagles and soar but we prefer to be turkeys gobbling and groveling in our own strength. What a tragedy! God is able to lift you above the difficult circumstances that enclose you. This does not mean you ignore them or forget them, it means you rise above them to get a heavenly perspective.
God not only promises to make us fly, He also promises to help us run. The second promise is, "They will run and not get tired."
There are crisis times. Emergencies when we simply cannot quit. When our pace quickens to a run. We work all day, and minister to a loved one each night, day after day. Doctors tell us that the emergency hours of life release in our bodies strength that we never knew we had. Our glands go to work and put extra power into the blood stream and we are able to do amazing things.
God enables us to carry the extra load . If God gives this blessing physically, He gives it even more spiritually. God enables us to run the race and not be weary if we would only lay aside every sin that encumbers us. (Heb. 12:1). We could run the races of life with endurance and keep on moving through the obstacles and accomplish the purpose God has for our lives even in times of crises.
The third encouraging promise is, "They will walk and not faint."
This promise refers to the daily routine or normal life of man. Those that wait on the Lord will keep on keeping on and not quit when they face weariness and depression. These are the people who when they encounter difficult experiences in life don’t turn to drink, drugs, illicit sex or escapist activities. They don’t commit suicide, they find the inner strength to keep on keeping on with the duties of life and their service to the Lord.
Frankly, I think it more difficult to keep on walking than to fly. When we turn to the Lord in those crisis times and find His power to soar above the problems, there is a special excitement, but what about the daily routine of life. Day after day life comes to us - but God has promised to give us the strength we need each day so we can walk and not faint. There may not be anything special about your daily routine, but it’s important to you, to God, and to the others who depend on you.
God promises us strength for each day, for that is the way we live, day by day. He says, "If you wait on Me, I will help you in the humdrum of life, in the weariness of monotony, in the daily routine of life." Will You begin to wait on Him day by day?
Life’s heartbreaks and tragedies can put an end to our resilience, our endurance, our nerve, and bring us to our I knees. But if we put our hope in the Lord and rely on Him, He renews our strength. The key to our endurance lies in the exchange of our limited resources for God’s limitless strength. And it is ours for the asking.
With God’s strength we can "run and not be weary," even when days become hectic and demanding. With His strength we can "walk and not faint," even though tedious, dull routine makes the way seem dreary and long. The psalmist exclaimed in the midst of his weary, tearful pilgrimage, "Blessed is the man whose strength is in You" (Psalm 84:5).
Oh, what an exchange - God’s infinite strength for our finite weakness! God gives strength in proportion to the strain.
If you are helpless in life’s fray,
God’s mighty power will be your stay;
Your failing strength He will renew,
For He’s a God who cares for you. - D. De Haan
CONCLUSION
God is never too tired or too busy to listen and help those who in faith come to Him. His strength becomes our strength, when His way becomes our way.
The waiters for Jehovah are those who believe in Him, in His promises, and in His ability to carry them out. They have placed their trust for salvation and for daily life in Him. Thus they can even glory in their infirmity that His strength may be made perfect in their weakness. (II Cor. 12:9)
If you are ever weary and tired and considering giving up, please take time to consider the promises of Isaiah 40:31. Wait before the Lord, and let Him give you His peace. Spend time before Him, every day and exchange your weakness for His strength. You will be amazed at the changes that will take place. Instead of doubting, you will be flying, you will mount up with wings as eagles; you will not be weary in well doing - you will run in it. You will walk in the routines of life and not faint!
"Have Thine Own Way."
[Those who place their hope in the LORD find new strength they did not know they had. They will be able to soar like eagles to new heights of achievement. They will be able to run the race and have energy left to run again. They can walk through the toughest situations without giving up or fainting. This was the comfort the Creator conceived for His confused and concerned creatures. The way was opening for Israel to run home to her homeland and to her Father. God would build the highway; lead the way, and give strength to endure on the way. ]
