“Just You Wait”

It is a typical event on a playground (at least it was in my day). Two boys are squared off against one another. First words are exchanged. Then they are exchanged more vigorously and loudly. And then a physical tussle ensues. And one gets the better of the other.

As the vanquished boy limps off, delicately holding his pride, he shouts over his shoulder to the victor, “Just you wait…I have a big brother…”

His final retort is his lament and protest that what seems to be a loss will yet prove to be a victory.

Just you wait.

For those of us who feel beat up by the world, there is a hopeful “Just you wait” story in Scripture. Habakkuk was lamenting to the Lord about the people of Judah and their rebellion against the Lord. He was writing late in the history of Judah and there had been a succession of evil kings who were emulating the evil kings of Israel. Habakkuk’s complaint was “How long, O LORD, will I call for help, And You will not hear? I cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ Yet You do not save” (Hab. 1:2). In other words, “There is something sinfully wrong with Your people — and Your Law is being ignored and injustice is prevailing” (see also vv. 3-4).

God responds to Habakkuk’s grief by telling Habakkuk that He was about to send the Chaldeans to punish the Judeans for their sin and take them into captivity (1:5-11). Habakkuk responds to that promise by an even deeper lament (1:12-17, which I paraphrase) — “The Chaldeans!? They are even worse than the Judeans! How can You send them to enact justice?”

Then Habakkuk stood aside to await God’s response and reproof (of Habakkuk’s complaint, 2:1).

And the Lord responded with great grace and hope:

Then the LORD answered me and said,
“Record the vision
And inscribe it on tablets,
That the one who reads it may run.
For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
For it will certainly come, it will not delay.” (2:2-3)

This was the Lord’s “just you wait.”

It was a reminder to Habakkuk that while he was seeing injustice, he was not seeing the end of the story and the final accounting. The Lord reminded him that what God had promised “hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.” He would redeem His people; despite their present sin, that redemption would not fail. He would be just in His judgment of the nations; despite the present prosperity of the rebel nations, His wrath would not fail. Just you wait.

That revelation of God’s nature is operative in our day as well. The God who has promised redemption for His people and judgment for His enemies will not fail. His plan is hastening toward its goal, even if we cannot see the progress of that plan in the moment.

Are you fretting about your daily battle with sin and waiting impatiently for your final final redemption? It is hastening toward the goal; it will not fail. You will one day be redeemed, fully free from sin, and not disappointed.

Are you grieving the seeming prosperity of the world system and certain individuals within that system? God’s plan of righteous retribution is hastening toward its goal; it will not fail. No unrighteous person will ever finally prevail. All unrighteousness will be judged fully and equitably — either on the person of Christ who absorbed that judgment for those who believe in Him, or on the sinner eternally in Hell. His plan is moving forward; you will not be disappointed.

Are you looking for the consummation of the ages and the final Kingdom of God and eternity — and the wait just seems so long? God’s plan for His King to sit on David’s throne and eternally reign with Him in Glory is hastening toward the goal. It will not fail. So many faithful followers of Christ already enjoy the benefits of Christ’s kingship and they are not disappointed. And we will not be disappointed either. It’s not long; it’s coming soon (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

Whatever your lament or complaint in this world, “just you wait” — the Lord’s plan will soon come to fruition. Waiting doesn’t mean failure. It just means waiting. He will yet act.

“Cowboy boots not available” by theirhistory is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.