“I Will Trust. . . .”
The mighty prophet Isaish is the one who says that one day God’s people will declare, “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid” (Isaiah 12:2). And, of course, I wonder, can I not say this now? The correlation between trusting and not fearing is monumental, and yet so dismissed by feeble souls like mine. So . . . what of you? Do you dismiss it too?
God’s Timing is Perfect!
Noah sure was in a dilemma. Granted, God had clearly told Noah to build an ark and to take into it all kinds of animals. God had given Noah the dimensions for the ark. God had even told Noah the number of days and nights that is was going to rain upon the earth–forty! But the one thing God did not tell Noah was the one thing that undoubtedly stirred the most serious discussions among Noah’s family: how long would they have to wait before getting off the boat?
Fasten your seatbelt as you review the schedule that unfolded for Noah. First, it rained for forty days. That much Noah was anticipating. But then it took one hundred and ten more days for the waters to recede enough for the ark to rest on Arafat. And then it took seventy-four more days for the tops of the mountains to become visible (cp. Genesis 8:5). Forty days later Noah sent a couple of birds out to scout the territory (8:6-9). A week after this, another bird was sent out, returning with a green leaf. Another week passes and a bird is sent out again, this time never to return. Twenty-two days later the water receded. About two weeks later Noah saw dry land from his perch in the ark. Fifty-seven days later Noah and his family–and the animals–walked out into the sunshine on dry soil. Think of it! Three hundred and seventy-seven days in all!
But the only number God had told Noah from the beginning was forty. That leaves three hundred and thirty-seven days of waiting without any firm statement about when to disembark! Could you wait that long? Patiently? Graciously? With anticipation and trust?
The beauty of it for Noah was that his patience paid off. God honored and blessed Noah (cp. 9:1). More importantly, God honored and glorified His own name through the entire flood experience. And God did this according to His timetable–not Noah’s.
Be mindful of these notions as you think about God’s work in your life. First, though you cannot see the timetable God has for the unfolding drama of His work and purposes in your life, He sees it. He knows when the right time is for this or that concern. His timing is well within the scope of His ability to manage.
Secondly, God is working even while you are not privy to tangible demonstrations of His work. Imagine how many times Noah must have gazed out an opening to see what was happening–only to see nothing but water. But justice was being meted out, and the water, in ways in which Noah could not have dreamed, was transforming the earth.
Finally, there is great blessing for those who wait patiently. When disembarking, God blessed Noah and covenanted with Him regarding the earth’s well-being. The thirty-seventh psalm states it well: Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land. . . . Have no doubt about it! God loves you very much, and will honor your obedience, trust and patience.