Silence

Awkward silence can be deafening. This is a point when many people begin to fumble around and say dumb things and act without thinking. Awkward silence promotes patience; an act that many prefer to steer far away from. Why? Silence can highlight the unknown, ignorance can stimulate all kinds of fears, and when we are afraid, those fears can cripple us.

An example of this could be Gehazi’s response to the Arameans when they come to surround Elisha’s house at Dothan. But Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid, those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:16-17). Our fears of the unknown can cause us to lose faith, like Jesus wanting to go back into Judea (John 11:8-10) or His death announcement (Matthew 16:22-23).

Throughout God’s redemption story of mankind, He allows times when we have to simply trust Him to be working, even if we can’t see it. 2 Peter 3:4, “Where is this ‘coming’ He promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

For the people who awaited the Messiah before John the Baptist, it had been over 400 years since Malachi’s prophecy about the Messiah (Malachi 4:5-6). But what was God doing during that time? While there isn’t a confirmed prophecy from God during that time, we can see how He was preparing the way for the Messiah’s arrival. Events like the conquests of Alexander the Great (336–323) included defeating the Persian empire and establishing Greek as the universal language throughout his entire kingdom (the known world). Or later, the strong stance the Hasmonean (Maccabee’s) took against required emperor worship and the tolerance that won with the empire. The establishment of the Synagogue, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees. The Greek translation of the Hebrew scripture (the Septuagint). These are just a few things that made the advancement of the kingdom of God easier and more receptive.

Jesus told Thomas, when he finally got to see Jesus after His resurrection, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29). Peter said in 1 Peter 1:8-9, “...Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

2 Peter 3:8-9, “Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”