Isaiah 28:16 is quoted in Romans 9:33, 10:11, and 1Peter 2:6. The last sentence of verse 16 is often translated similarly to the Greek rending, “and the one who believes upon Him will not be put to shame.” The NIV has “..the one who trusts will never be dismayed.” The Hebrew is stronger and deeper than that.  “..the one who believes will not make haste.” The word translated ‘one who believes’ or ‘one who trusts’ is ma’amin, which has a root meaning that speaks of both training and loyalty or faithfulness. There is a difference between just believing and being loyal through hard times. James 2:19 says, “You believe that God is One, you do well: the demons also believe and shudder.” The demons know God and His power, but are not obedient and faithful to Him.

The two words translated “dismayed” or “make haste” are more difficult, but refer to something not done quickly. The twelfth century rabbi, Ibn Ezra, wrote, “He (the faithful one) will remain steadfast in his faith however long realization may be delayed.” Each of us must understand that when the Lord has given us a vision for ministry, that the timing is His, not ours, and we need to hold strong in faith while He brings all things in His timing. If we get ahead of His timing the ministry becomes our ministry, not His. That ministry may have financial success but will not have spiritual success. When He gives any of us the vision for a ministry there may be years of preparation before we are to begin.

What to us seems to be a delay may be something the Lord is doing in us. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-13: “Not that I am talking on account of a great need, for I learned to be content with what things I have.  And I know how to submit myself to want, and I know how to be abundant: in everything and in all things I have learned the secret, both how to be filled and how to be needy and how to be affluent and how to suffer want: I have strength to overcome all things in the One Who strengthens me.” Psalm 105 says:  v. 17 “..Joseph was sold as a slave.” Then verse 19 says: “Until the time that His word came to pass, the decree of the Lord had purified him.” (Artscroll Tanach) This refers to the time Joseph spent in slavery and in prison. The word translated purified comes from a root which means to refine, purify, test, or burn. The time spent waiting for the Lord’s timing has a purpose, whether to purify the minister or to prepare other elements, a true refining process. We need to be like Paul, content in this season of lack. The lack can be money, as Paul wrote about, or it may be in ministry. Each of us has a ministry, with or without ordination. Remember, each of us is a priest. We are a “..kingdom, priests to His God and Father..” (Revelation 1:6). It is important to be obedient; to wait contentedly, to keep the faith and grow spiritually while He works His will in us.

There are many promises in His Word for Israel and for end times, but we cannot put our timetables on them. If you listen to tapes made ten or more years ago about end times, or read end time books written at least that long ago, you will see that the speakers/authors did not have a handle on God’s timing. There are many prophecies for Israel today that we hold in faith, even though they may not be fulfilled in my lifetime. They will be fulfilled in His timing. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews dwells on this theme.