ODJ: waiting

July 14, 2015 

READ: Isaiah 30:15-18 

So the LORD must wait for you (v.18).

In C. S. Lewis’ The Horse and His Boy (from The Chronicles of Narnia series), Shasta embarked on a long journey from his village to escape being sold as a slave. As he travelled, he became aware of something following him:

“It was pitch dark and [Shasta] could see nothing. And the Thing (or Person) was going so quietly that he could hardly hear any footfalls. What he could hear was breathing. His invisible companion seemed to breathe on a very large scale, and Shasta got the impression that it was a very large creature . . . The Thing (unless it was a Person) went on beside him so very quietly that Shasta began to hope he had only imagined it. But just as he was becoming quite sure of it, there suddenly came a deep, rich sigh out of the darkness beside him . . . ’ Who are you?’ he said, scarcely above a whisper. ‘One who has waited long for you to speak,’ said the Thing.”

Of course, the Thing was a lion—Aslan, the Christ-figure in Lewis’ Chronicles. The Great Lion had walked with Shasta, protecting and waiting for him. The lion would not force himself upon the boy but would humbly wait for Shasta to speak before moving towards him.

The prophet Isaiah spoke similar words to God’s people Israel, assuring them that their great God, forever patient, would “wait for [them] to come to him so he can show [them] his love and compassion” (Isaiah 30:18). Israel’s God endured much in the waiting, including His people’s rejection. “No, we will get our help from Egypt,” Israel said.

Our strong, kind and patient God will wait for us. He waits for us to return. God waits for us to speak, to acknowledge our desire, to welcome Him into our story again. What an amazing God! —Winn Collier

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