Mount Up!

“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 40:30, NKJV)

The context of this verse is a prophetic word about the coming deliverance of God’s people. In the process of proclamation, Isaiah engages in a mock debate with doubters who hear his word. Like a good salesman, he answers several objections, twice questioning back, “Have you not known? Have you not heard?” (Vs. 21 & 28).

In the latter instance, he follows up with what he presumes should have been common knowledge to his hearers. He says,

“. . . The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.”

In contrast to that declaration, he points out that even young men (read warriors) eventually get faint, weary and eventually, “utterly fall.” (Vs. 30) So, what is he saying when he enjoins us to, “wait on the Lord?” Are we to passively sit around and just expect God to do stuff for us? Of course not!

The whole point of his proclamation is that we are not able, in our own strength, to do all that is required of us. In our flesh, we will fail. Myriad examples in Scripture demonstrate God intentionally sending Israel’s warriors out against seemingly superior foes. Time and again He grants them the victory by divine intervention. Gideon and his band of 300 come to mind; David against Goliath is another example. Look in both the Old and New Testaments and you’ll see so many times when only by God’s strength were HIs people able to prevail.

As we move forth and engage the enemy in spiritual warfare, which may involve verbal interactions, political disputes, or any other type of calling, we are not to proceed confident in our own superiority. Yes, we are to prepare for and be ready however He leads, but when we are called by the Father to engage the forces of darkness, we must do as Paul directed.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:10-11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬) That is what it means to wait on the Lord. As His cause is your cause, so His strength will be yours, His resources your supply.

Mount up, children of God! It’s time to move forward into the fray as He leads and in His strength!