The Yield of Those Who Are Patient
Jos 5:12 NLT - [12] No manna appeared on the day they first ate from the crops of the land, and it was never seen again. So from that time on the Israelites ate from the crops of Canaan.
The old adage of "good things come to those who wait" truly shines all throughout Scripture. In James 5.7 we are instructed to "be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen." We read also of the Israelites spending 400 years in bondage, and another 40 wandering through the desert. The Bible speaks so often of patience for a reason: it yields the fruits of the Lord. There is a reason that Hebrews 12.1 coaches us to "run with endurance the race God has set before us." Our faith is not a sprint. It is a long journey that continues well beyond when we first give our hearts to the Lord. Indeed, Christianity is about continually giving one's heart over to Christ's forgiveness. In doing so, we will receive the favor of the Lord.
In Joshua, we read that the Israelites finally, after 40 years of wandering, begin their campaign to take the Promised Land God has given them. After decades of manna, we read that "no manna appeared on the day [the Israelites] first ate from the crops of the land, and it was never seen again." Wow! Talk about patience! Forty years later, when the Israelites finally have land to cultivate, the Lord didn't forget their needs. He had still been delivering manna all that time! The patience of the people Joshua led went on to create a prosperous civilization that would arise to one of the most powerful middle eastern powers of the Bronze Age. More than this, however, the Lord would use this civilization to bring forth the Messiah by whom we have all been saved: Jesus Christ.
Yes, good things come to those who wait. What are you waiting on from the Lord? What does He have in store for you? Hang in there! If the Israelites could wander in the desert for 40 years with nothing but manna to eat, we can endure whatever trial the Lord delivers to us. As He never left the Israelites during their exodus and never failed to deliver them the Promised Land, so too He will not forget His promises to you: promises to bless you so that you might live a life that is a beacon to the world and a blessing to God!
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