Waiting on God

For forty years the Israelites had wandered in the desert.   The leader of Israel had passed away, though “his eye was not dim nor his step abated.”  A whole generation had passed away, who didn’t have the faith that God could lead them into the land flowing with milk and honey.

But Joshua was the leader now.  Trained under Moses, he was  was going to lead this new generation across the Jordan.  In the book of Joshua chapter three it’s recorded that Israel finally makes it across the river, into the land that God promised to Abraham hundreds of years before.  Finally they could be where they were supposed to be. Israel is going to cross into the land that they had been waiting for.  

But before they do, the book of Joshua records a curious fact. 

Joshua 3:1-2 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they lodged there before they crossed. 2 the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp;

Israel has already waited for 40 years. Their doubt, unbelief, and idolatry ensured that a whole generation would never see the promised fulfilled.  But now the new generation is close enough to see it! Three days might not seem like much after 40 years, but the truth is that sometimes we have to wait on God’s promise, and we don’t know why. We may never know on this side of heaven. Sometimes to trust in God means to wait without knowing why.  

But we can always know that God has promised us will be worth the wait.  Even if we have to wait our whole lives to receive the promises of God when we die, it is worth it.  The Israelites had waited their whole life hearing about the promises of God.  Only to march right up to it and set up camp for three days. But if we trust God, then we know that the promise is worth the wait.

Chances are you are waiting on some of the promises of God today.  Maybe it seems like they are just across the river, or maybe it feels like they are forty years away. Either way, trust God and know that He is good and worth the wait.