“But those who hope (or wait) upon the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar aloft with eagles’ wings; when they are running they won’t grow weary, when they are walking they won’t get tired.” (Isa. 40:31)
The above verse from Isaiah has been a source of encouragement and inspiration for countless believers over the ages. When faced with insurmountable challenges and impossible situations, God provides this iron-clad promise which has stood the test of time.
When we consider the word as translated into English as ‘hope’ (or sometimes, ‘wait’) it is easy to miss the true sense of the original Hebrew (‘qavah’) which suggests an active hope opposed to something passive or fatalistic. This word has both a literal and figurative meaning. In the literal sense, it means, “to bind together like a cord.” It reminds us of the verse in Eccles. 4:12: “… a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” In other words, ‘qavah’ is connected to being in complete union with the Lord. Our hope in God becomes unshakable when we walk in alignment with Him. And, by the way, this should be equally celebrated among brethren corporately as expressed in Ps.133: “How good and how pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity (union).”
Figuratively, ‘qavah’ actively conveys the sense of anticipation. Here is the potential for every believer to grow strong in the power of His might for those who choose to walk in His ways! This hope is substantial and “an anchor for our soul.” (Heb.6:19) It transcends a set of ideas or propositions, for one can agree with all the truths of the Bible yet still miss the power of God.
There are times in everyone’s life when our spiritual strength needs to be renewed. It is often God’s way of nudging us to depend on Him more fully as our primary source of support in life and ministry. Even the great apostle had to learn this painfully when God reminded him in the midst of a personal crisis: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in (your) weakness.” (2 Cor 12:9)
Today is the day for each one of us to soar like an eagle above our circumstances and view things from a high elevation free from the cloudy murkiness of life’s misconceptions! Are you ready?
Raphael ben Levi
www.mekudeshet.co.za
