Waiting is so hard. I’m not good at it at all. Just ask my husband; I am impatient, especially if I’m waiting for something I badly want.
Our kids are terrible at waiting too. I mean, can’t they just wait a couple minutes till we’re done in the bathroom before they get their snack?
But sometimes, it isn’t us who are doing the waiting. Sometimes, God is ready to move, but he is waiting on us.
I’ve been reading in Exodus lately on my journey to read the Bible all the way through this year. I was reading along in the beginning of the book–the part where God sent multiple plagues to the Egyptians because Pharaoh would not let God’s people go.
One passage of scripture really “jumped” out at me during the plague of frogs chapter (haha! I love puns). It really “leaped” off the page at me in a new way. Okay… alright… Here’s the passage:
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, “Plead with the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the LORD.”
“You set the time!” Moses replied. “Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. They will remain only in the Nile River.”
“Do it tomorrow,” Pharaoh said. (Exodus 8:8-10, NLT).
Wait, what?
Pharaoh was desperate to have Moses pray to God to remove the frogs that had taken over all of Egypt. The frogs were so abundant that they were in the Egyptians’ ovens and kneading bowls. And yet, when he was faced with God’s power and ability, when he could have seen God quickly on his behalf, Pharaoh chose to wait a day. Instead of requesting that Moses immediately pray to ask God to remove the frogs, he said, “Do it tomorrow.”
Why would he ever do that? God is all-powerful and no miracle can ever drain his power. He simply could have spoken the word and the frogs would have been gone. Why did Pharaoh choose to wait?
I can’t speak for Pharaoh, but I can speak for myself. Maybe it will speak to you too.
Often, God waits on us for what he calls us to do. I don’t mean that God’s plans depend on us. Definitely not. But sometimes God is waiting to bless us or waiting to speak to us, and we are not ready to receive it.
We often get in our own way. God l0ngs to show us compassion and grace. He wants to bless us, but we don’t come to him. For whatever reason, maybe sin, maybe fear, we don’t step into what God is ready to do through us.
What kept Pharaoh from accepting the miracle that God wanted to do? I would say it was stubbornness. All of the plagues showed that Pharaoh had a hard, stubborn heart toward God and his people. God forbid the same could be said about us.
What is it that is keeping you, keeping me, from “jumping” into God’s will? Are we stubborn and want things on our own terms? Is fear holding us back from stepping into where God is leading? Is sin blocking God’s blessing, so we miss out on seeing God’s hands at work?
Might I encourage you to pray about this right now? Please join me…
Father, I don’t want anything to stand between us. I want your best for me. I want your blessings and your guidance. Please point out anything in me that blocks me from seeing your hand move. Don’t let me be like Pharaoh; keep my heart soft. If you’re ready to move, I’m going with you. – Amen.
***Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
