by Pastor Afolabi Oladele

O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. Isaiah 63:17

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. Isaiah 64:4

Consider our text for today in solemnity and in sobriety! Perhaps this reflects your thought and reaction to the events you are currently experiencing; the continuing prosperity of the oppressor and your seemingly endless pain or suffering. You ask, why will God prefer those who He has not called, who despise His Lordship?

Compare Isaiah 64:2 with Revelation 6:12-16 and Isaiah 64:4 with Romans 8:25-29, noting purpose here. But what purpose? That a people who feel forsaken, who desperately cry to God for unusual intervention, will see their prayers become a prophetic trigger of how the world and creation will react at the appearing of the Lord.  You respond, how does this relieve me of my present discomfort? You come to terms with the fact that the Lord is a God of action. To think He seems unconcerned about us because our prayers are not answered as quickly as we expect is to fall prey to the warning He gave us in Luke 18:7-8.

It takes intentionally trusting Him and depending on Him, rather than doubting, to show that we understand and are co-operating with His process for spiritual growth. The lesson of the tree not leaving its place or transplanting itself because of the drought it is experiencing is fearfully communicated in Isaiah 50:10-11, Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying to him. Selah