July 29, 2021
I greet and bless you in the name of our Creator, Maker, and ever unforgettable Lord Jesus Christ. The blessed word that the Lord has given for you today is from the book of Isaiah 30:18, “Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.”
From the above context we learn that the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you for the Lord is a God of justice. How blessed are all those who long for Him. Despite the covenant that God made with the people of Israel, and in spite of the many precious promises He gave them, they seemed intent on defying their Lord and turning their back on the grace, which He continuously showered on them. Time and again, they relied on their own strength instead of trusting in the Lord their God. And on many occasions, they made alliances with their heathen neighbours rather than turning to the Lord their God for His protection and help. Throughout their past history, the Bible records the many times and many ways that Israel rebelled against the Lord their God and did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Moses often warned the people that disobedience would result in judgement while blessings would be given, when they kept the covenant of God and believed His Word. God counselled Israel many times and through many prophets that their obstinate resistance to Him would cause them much pain. He warned that their foolishness in turning to the world for protection and seeking alliances with the surrounding heathen nations would bring
disgrace on them as a people. God also told them, that their disobedience would result in their eventual downfall, and they may not be able to remain in the land of Canaan (which God had pledged as an eternal inheritance to Abraham, and his Promised Seed, the Lord Jesus Christ) – until the entire nation repented of their sins.
Prophet Isaiah reminded them that their redemption would be in repentance and rest, and that their strength would be found in quiet confidence in God. But they rejected all His gracious messages, and shunned His prophetic messengers. And yet we read that the Lord, desired to be gracious to His people, Israel. Despite Israel’s apostasy and rebellion, God, because of His long-suffering mercy, was prepared, “to wait patiently on high, in order to have compassion on, them.” For, we read, “the Lord is a God of justice. How blessed are all those who long for Him.”Too often, we Christians can also find ourselves trusting in the answers, and solutions given to us by the world, and depending on our own resources. We too turn to man governments, place our hope in a hero, leave our first Love Jesus, and wander far from the Lord Who bought us with His own precious blood.
To those of you who are reading this message, I wish to tell you that you need to learn lessons from Israel’s failure, so that we will not make the same mistakes by hardening our own hearts to the call of His gentle voice and gracious promptings. And let us thank God that His grace towards us will continue, until Jesus returns again to establish His kingdom on the earth in the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Israel – for God longs to be gracious to us who wait upon Him. Therefore let us return back to Him, setting aside all the desires of this world. For the Lord is a God of justice, and how blessed are all those who long for Him. Examine yourselves once again whether you depend entirely on God or lean on your own strength. The Bible says, they that trust in the Lord shall prosper. Your business will flourish; your family life will bloom. Your children who are unsettled will settle in life. Your son or daughter, who had been waiting for Visa for several months, will suddenly get the visa and will move to the desired destination, to make a better living. You will triumph in all the work of your hands. Remember to seek God and keep His Word. God Bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our God and Saviour. Thank You for the grace You have shown to us and to all who trust in Christ for salvation. We pray for Your people, Israel… that they would repent and turn to Christ by trusting in His shed blood for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting – to Whom be all honour and glory, be forever and ever. Help us not to lean on our own strength but to depend upon God.
In Jesus Name We Pray.
Amen.
