WAIT… Until The Day Of Your Showing (PART 2)

WAIT… Until The Day Of Your Showing (PART 1)

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THE DAY OF YOUR SHOWING

“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.” – Luke 1:80 (KJV)

In the first part of this series, we looked at the importance and rewards of waiting on God in relation to fulfilling our God-ordained purpose in life. I believe we all agree that it is indeed necessary to constantly draw strength from God’s presence even as we go about establishing God’s Kingdom here on earth.

However, from the title of the series, it is clear that that only makes up for one-half of our discussion. In today’s episode, we’ll attempt to address the second half – The day of your showing.

The phrase is gotten from Luke 1:80, and it spoke of John the Baptist who was to announce the Messiah to God’s people. His ministry was to precede that of Christ. He was to occupy a very important office in God’s plan and was separated for this purpose from birth. Interestingly, this verse brings to our knowledge that there was a specific timing for the launch of John’s ministry referred to as “the day of his showing unto Israel”. The verse also gives us some information on what he engaged in while he waited for the day of his showing, but more on that later.

In The Deserts…

Another phrase worthy of notice in that verse is “in the deserts” – some other versions translated it as “in the wilderness”. Why did John have to remain in the desert until the day of his showing?

Now, a desert (or wilderness), in the context of this discussion, might not necessarily mean a place of isolation, but rather, a state of obscurity – hidden away from public notice.

John was a unique man who rocked camel-hair fashion and snacked on locusts and wild honey. But beyond his ‘anti-civilization’ traits, the wilderness was a necessary route for his journey of purpose. It was to serve as a training ground.

Every soldier conscripted into God’s army is required to undergo the necessary training for his position before being sent to the battlefield, and oftentimes, this training happens in the secret. God only announces his men after they have successfully undergone wilderness training. If we peep into the accounts of some other folks God used to fulfil His purpose across scripture, we’ll notice a pattern that highlights the significance of the wilderness in God’s dealings.

Going all the way back to Genesis, we see Joseph – a man God used to save Israel from the famine that threatened to wipe out their entire lineage. Joseph seemed to have met a dead end when he was cast into prison for standing true to God, but we would later understand that God orchestrated that arrangement to bring him to a place of training where he would engage and grow the gift that would later bring him to the palace.

In Exodus, Moses spent 40 years in the deserts tending to the flock of his father-in-law while God worked on him. He was to deliver Israel from the tyranny of Egypt, but he had to be subjected to the required training for his office. In 1 Samuel 16, we are introduced to David, God’s chosen king over his people. David was also a man of the deserts, looking after his father’s sheep while being trained by God. He was to defeat Goliath, but he had to conquer the lion and the bear in the wilderness beforehand.

Even Jesus was led up by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:1). If the Son of God himself had to go through the wilderness before launching into His ministry, how much more do we?

The wilderness is where God makes His soldiers — away from the public. It’s a place of intimate dealings, just you and God. It is a place of waiting, waiting on God until the day of your showing. And when you are well equipped for your assignment, God Himself will announce you.

Who Made You?

Premature exposure is dangerous. Launching into God’s assignment for our lives before the day of our showing leaves us vulnerable and unequipped. It’s like sending untrained soldiers to the battlefront — defeat is inevitable. The same is true for a man who announces himself when his training is not yet complete.

In Exodus 2, Moses — before retreating to the wilderness— had attempted to carry out God’s work by His strength. He saw an Egyptian oppressing an Israelite and immediately pounced on the Egyptian, killing him. Great move, we might think… but there was something missing in the midst of all his passion and enthusiasm.

We see the missing piece in verse 14 of that chapter: “And the man said, Who made you a prince and a judge over us?…” — Exodus 2:14 (AMPC). Moses was yet to be made. Out of fear of what would befall him, he fled town and was ushered into his training. The next time he showed up in Egypt, he was well-equipped and he turned that nation upside down. Only made men and women can fulfil God’s purpose for their lives.

At the wedding in Cana, Jesus told His mother that His time had not yet come. He knew that there was a timing to His ministry. There’s a timing to our callings and assignment, but it is necessary that we subject ourselves to be made by God in the wilderness. This requires us to stay waiting on God.

Romans 8:19 tells us that creation eagerly awaits the manifestation of the sons of God. Just like the Israelites waited on a deliverer, the world awaits our various ministries. But to be effective in our offices, we have to be made.

Recap…

So far, we have discussed the importance of waiting on God in fulfilling purpose, and also the making in the wilderness. In the final part of this series, we would consider the “how” of waiting on God.