those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles (Is. 40:31).
Long ago life was so hard that people thought God had forsaken them. Many wept, “GOD has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me” (Is 40:27) . They lamented how bullies and tyrants got away with murder.
And life was hard! They’d lost everything and were exiles in a foreign nation. Worst of all they knew that they were not innocent – they’d disregarded God’s ways.
Through the prophet God gently rebuked: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?” God reminded them that He is the great king who reduces tyrants to nothing (:23). “Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?” said the Holy One. They knew the answer “God brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name!” (:26).
Then the Holy One promised “those who wait for 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” (:31)
This gently rebuke and this breath-taking promise is for us too, here, now. For God is with us.
God Bless,
Sean