Book of GenesisVoorbeeld

WAITING UPON GOD

Waiting is a very boring activity. No one likes to wait. There are two types of waiting: waiting upon something that will definitely  happen and waiting upon something uncertain to happen.  Waiting upon something that will definitely happen will have some clear benchmarks such as waiting for our queue number to be called, waiting for salary time, or waiting for the end of academic year. Waiting for uncertain things will not have clear benchmarks, such as waiting for a life changing moment from waiting to have a child, or waiting for recovery from a severe sicknesses, and many more.

Joseph had received his promises from God when he was 17 years old (Genesis 37:2). But his dreams didn’t suddenly come true. His dreams were only fulfilled when Joseph was 30 years old (Genesis 41:46). Joseph needed to wait for 13 years for the fulfilment of God’s promises in his life.  

The process of waiting that Joseph experienced was not an easy one, because he waited without certainty before the fulfilment time came. He didn’t know when he would be set free from prison. Though he tried to seek for help from Pharaoh’s chief butler, the chief butler did not remember Joseph. (Genesis 40:23).

Those who receive a lot of grace from God will always long after Him. Those who love God wholeheartedly will always wait upon God. This is Joseph’s secret in waiting for the fulfilment of God’s promise. He never stopped waiting upon the Lord. As the Psalmist quoted, “My soul waits upon the Lord more than they that watch for the morning…”  That’s why we need to know that our God is a faithful God who keeps His promises and gives grace to those who love Him and hold on to His commandments. 

Putting trust in God is not merely lip service, but it takes faith and perseverance to wait upon His help.