Often in waiting for the promise of God, it seems as though we'll never see it. Years can go by, and untold suffering in that time, and it still seem as though what God once told us will be given to us, will never be given, and will never come true. We usually come to feel this way not only because of the long time period that goes by, which makes it seem like God is uncaring and unable, but also because it seems as though according to our understanding, the promise could never be fulfilled because in some subtle secret manner, we really do believe that we'll need to do something to make God's promise happen (like Sarah in the Bible did). What we must keep in mind though, is that whenever God gives his most special gifts and his most special promises, He usually always has His people wait for it, and wait for it for quite a long time, usually for many years (this obviously also means that He allows us to suffer long for it as well, not to earn it, but to be prepared to receive it in the right manner).
There are many examples of this in the Bible. Samuel's mother cried out to God in desperation after years of having no son and thus much barrenness and mocking from her husband's other wife in the meantime because of it (those that have, be careful not to belittle those that don't have, you just make their suffering worse! and you also tempt yourself to pride). Elisabeth and Zechariah were childless all their lives, and were well past the age of bearing when the age came to Zechariah in the temple and delivered the news and promise of a son that Elisabeth was to have. And it was so unbelievable to Zechariah because of his age, that he didn't believe God would bless him in this way. Mary too at this time was told by God's angel that she would bare a son, and her excitement at what this meant for her was no less immense and important, evidenced by the song she sung in Luke 1 verse 46-55. Some of the most striking parts include her mentioning that God, with that news, had taken away her hunger by fulfilling her desire to have a child (v53), and also taken away her humiliation (v48 + v52). Abraham and Sarah were another example, where they had waited so many years, that Sarah finally came to distrust God and not believe the promise, even telling the Angel of God (some believe the Lord Himself) that this could not happen because of her and her husband's age. They had waited for so many years, that Sarah didn't think it was in the realm of possibility, even for the Lord! It was 25 years before God's promise came true, and in that time both of them had doubted God, and Sarah had even taken things into her own hands in getting herself a son by the name of Ishmael. God was still faithful though, and Isaac was given to them in His timing.
Though there was much time, and no doubt much suffering in waiting for the above promises, those that waited, benefitted mightily in the end. Not only did they benefit themselves, but God wrought some of His most profound and special works through these given promises (works that He still speaks through today!). Isaac, as the given promise, was given an incredibly close relationship with God, the Lord Himself appearing to Him and speaking with him. He became part of way God revealed Himself to mankind (through his story), and God identified Himself with Isaac specifically when He revealed Himself to men as saying that He was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Ex 3v6). God blessed Isaac in a specific way himself, leading him to his wife, blessing him with prosperity and also breaking him so that he could walk closely and humbly with God and know Him in a very special and spiritually intimate manner. Samuel's mother got to see her son (whose name means 'the Lord hears') become one of the greatest and most important prophets and judges that Israel had ever seen. Samuel anointed Kings, mustered Israel's army for battle, judged Israel (settled disputes and brought wisdom and wise decisions for the people), and heard from God for His people. Elisabeth received John the Baptist as promised, and so saw a man who heralded to Israel the introduction of the King of Kings on earth, and brought a message of coming grace and also of the justice and judgment of God. This was a man who Jesus Himself said that no man born of woman was greater than John the Baptist! Who could weigh the value of such a promise! Of any of these promises! Needless to say, the greatest promise and the greatest gift was Jesus Himself. He is the King of Kings, the Saviour and the true Judge. He was the ultimate promise that mankind received, and also shows that at the heart of any great promise, Jesus, first and foremostly, wants to give Himself to us, and be at the heart of any goodness those promises hold for us.
No reasons are given as to why God made these people weight so long for the promises they received, and the promises they were given. God, it seems, never gives absolute answers as to why sometimes such long periods and long times of suffering are given for His special promises, that is something we'll have to wait till we get to heaven to fully understand. However, we 'know in part' why He does this. One, He does it to show that His most special providences and works are performed by Him alone, and do not come about because of the strength or glory of man (which is really no strength or glory at all anyway). We quickly come to see this because of one simple fact; we are all, like Paul, the chief of sinners. We often fail, we often sin, we often get it wrong and miss the way, we often lose heart and lack faith, but through it all God doesn't give up on us, and is extremely merciful and patient with us. The New Testament says that we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the excellency of the power is of Him, and not of us. No one in the past, or alive today, could say that anything extraordinary that God did through the promises they were given was because of what they did, who they were, or what they achieved, it was all because of God's goodness and all because of His grace. God uses the time of waiting to continually break down our pride and make us more and more humble.This will mean that we'll be able to remain close in our practical relationship with Him, and so that we won't fall in pride (the Apostle Paul was given a 'thorn in the flesh' to keep Him humble because of the great revelations he was given) when the great promise is given to us. It will also mean that when the promise comes, we will give it back to him in the sense that we will submit to Him using it for His purposes and His glory. Before she received the promise, Hannah, the soon to be mother of Samuel, told God that if He would give her a son, she would give it back to Him when he was fully grown, to serve the Lord for the rest of His days! There are many other reasons why the Lord has us wait, but many of them are only revealed when we are given the promise itself. In all things however, God does what He does in this manner to show us that His ways are not our ways, and our thoughts not His thoughts- He doesn't do things according to a human way, but his way alone, and that will mean that all the glory will go to Him! No flesh should glory in His presence, and this is especially important when great promises are eventually received.
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