But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
Last Thursday, Ascension Day, began the 10 wait in Jerusalem for the disciples for the gift God was going to send them. They knew it was going to be the Holy Spirit, but they didn’t know when or how. Can you imagine the conversations that took place in that upper room while they were waiting? But just like the Hebrew definition for hope is much different than the English, so is the definition for wait.
We have to remember that the disciples and those with them in the upper room were Jewish, and when Jesus told them to wait, it meant not just sitting around praying and doing little to nothing else. Simply because the word used in the Hebrew is Qavah, which means, To wait for, look for, hope and expect. But it also means to entwine, to bind, to collect and gather together.
I’m sure they were remembering all the things Jesus told them about Himself and how everything He said would happen did. They now could truly expect a visit from Holy Spirit, even if they didn’t know when and how. Why? because Jesus proved Himself to be faithful and trustworthy. But they also applied the other part of the verse, where they were entwining and binding themselves to God and His Word.
Their waiting was becoming a time of preparation for what was to come and they embraced it and knew God was at work. They went into that room like a bunch of chickens just clucking around, but they would be transformed over the next 10 days and come out like new creations! Over this next week we will learn more about those changes and how important it is for us to learn to embrace the wait so God can transform us to become more like His Son.
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