One of the greatest examples of Abraham is his enduring faithfulness in expectation of his promised blessings. Abraham waited on the Lord until it seemed there was little chance that the Lord would keep his promise but Abraham knew that God cannot lie and that somehow the desire of his heart would one day be fulfilled. Abraham desired the blessings of the 'fathers', meaning the priesthood which was passed down from father Adam to the rightful heirs or first born male children who were righteous enough to receive it. These blessings of the priesthood he did not only desire for himself but for his posterity also which meant he would have to have an heir to pass the rights of the priesthood to.
The Lord entered into a covenant with Abraham sealed with a binding oath that his heir would 'come out of his own bowels' (Genesis 15:4). In reference to this event, Paul states to the Hebrews, "For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself" (Hebrews 6:13). To better understand Abraham's ability to never give up on the Lord's promise it is important for us to have a basic understanding of ancient and extremely serious process of oath swearing:
"According to the ancient pattern, the subject bound himself to the master by passing between the separated parts of a dead animal. As he passed between the parts, he swore an oath, while pointing at the dead animal, that he would fulfill the terms of the contract. Failure to do so would invoke the same consequence that befell the animal. This type of simile cursing was common among the Hebrews in both the Old World and the New World." (Dave Hadlock, Lesson 2 God Will Provide Himself a Lamb, Meridian Magazine)
Genesis 15 describes the same process of oath swearing between Jehovah and Abraham. Abraham was instructed to divide into pieces 'an heifer of three years old, and a she goat...and a ram...and a turtledove' (Genesis 15:9-10). When the sun went down that night, Jehovah, symbolised by the burning lamp, passed between the pieces of the carcass of the dead animals promising Abraham that he would fulfill his part of the covenant or incur the curse of the dead animals. From this Abraham knew that the Lord would not go back on his promise.
So the Lord had promised Abraham a rightful heir to the blessings of the 'fathers' and then promptly placed him in the waiting room, for 37 years. Why such a long wait? Why not give Sarah a son when she could have conceived normally, without divine intervention? Church Father Ambrose offered a plausible explanation: "An aged woman who was sterile brought (Isaac) to birth according to God's promise, so that we may believe that God has power to bring it about that even a virgin may give birth". (Didymus the Blind, On Genesis 2:41, in Oden, Ancient Christian Commentary, 2:45).
"Sarah's miraculous conception, intentionally arranged by the Almighty as a miracle that had never been seen since the Creation, is surely one of the clearest similitudes of the birth of Him who would fulfill the promise to Abraham and Isaac that in their seed all nations of the earth would be blessed". (E. Douglas Clark, The Blessings of Abraham, Becoming a Zion People, p. 192)
There are two recurring themes throughout the Book of Mormon. One is that the Saviour is merciful and the other is that He always fulfills his promises. If you are in the waiting room at this moment for whatever reason, be comforted and "cast not away therefore your confidence, which had great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise". (Hebrews 10:35,36) He who has promised, will deliver. The promise is this:
"Verily, I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;
Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Saboath, and are recorded with this seal and testament - the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.
Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name's glory, saith the Lord". (D&C 98:1-3)
The children of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years before they came into the promised land. Lehi was commanded to flee Jerusalem with his family in 600 BC but they did not see their promised land until nearly 11 years later. Joseph Smith had the first vision in 1820 and did not obtain the plates until 1827. There are many others who had to experience the waiting room, like Abraham of old, because of significant events in their lives. A significant event very often necessitates spending time in the waiting room. The tricky part is not to get discouraged, fearful, doubtful or impatient to the point of retreat. When we receive a promise through personal revelation that something is right for us, we need to develop tenacity beyond our ordinary capacity until the promise is fulfilled. Following every worth while and life changing revelation comes the adversary's attempt to discredit the promise you have received. Do not be dismayed. If something is true for you, hold fast onto the witness you have received and dispel the powers of darkness by your willingness to believe. Remember how you felt when the spirit of revelation was upon you and do not distrust the experience you had.
"...once there has been illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don't give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly don't give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears.
.....mine angels shall go up before you, and also my presence, and in time ye shall possess the goodly land' (D&C 103:20)
What goodly land? Well, your goodly land. Your promised land. Your new Jerusalem. Your own little acre flowing with milk and honey. Your future. Your dreams. Your destiny. I believe that in our own individual ways, God takes us to the grove or the mountain or the temple and there shows us the wonder of what His plan is for us." (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence, Ensign March 2000, p. 9)
It is easy to fall prey to fear and doubt whilst waiting for fulfillment of your promises. Fear is destructive and paralyzing to your faith. You stand to lose your heart's desire if you allow fear to abort the process of deliverance. "After you have gotten the message, after you have paid the price to feel His love and hear the word of the Lord, go forward. Don't fear, don't vacillate, don't quibble, don't whine. You may, like Alma going to Ammoniahah, have to find a route that leads an unusual way, but that is exactly what the Lord (did) for the children of Israel. Nobody had ever crossed the Red Sea this way, but so what? There's always a first time. With the spirit of revelation, dismiss your fears and wade in with both feet. In the words of Joseph Smith, "Brethren (and sisters), shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory!" (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence, Ensign March 2000, p.10)
Who are you that the Lord would pay such attention to and honour his promises to you?
"For ye are children of Israel, and of the seed of Abraham, and ye must needs be led out of bondage by power, and with a stretched-out arm.
"Therefore let not your hearts faint, for I say not unto you as I said unto your fathers: Mine angels shall go before you, but not my presence.
"But I say unto you: Mine angels shall go up before you, and also my presence, and in time ye shall possess the goodly land." (D&C 103:17,19-20)
You have not been forgotten. In the words of the famous hymn:
"Unanswered yet? The prayer your lips have pleaded
In agony of heart these many years.
Does faith begin to fail, is hope departing
And think you all in vain those falling tears?
Say not the Father hath not heard your prayer;
You shall have your desire, sometime, somewhere.
Unanswered yet? Though when you first presented
This one petition at the Father's throne,
It seemed you could not wait the time of asking,
So urgent was your heart to make it known.
Though years have passed since then, do not despair;
The Lord will answer you, sometime, somewhere.
Unanswered yet? But you are not unheeded;
The promises of God forever stand;
To Him our days and years alike are equal;
"Have faith in God"; it is your Lord's command.
Hold onto Jacob's angel and your prayer
Shall bring a blessing down sometime, somewhere.
Unanswered yet? Nay, do not say ungranted;
Perhaps your part is not yet wholly done;
The work began when first your prayer was uttered,
And God will finish what He has begun.
If you will keep the incense burning there,
His glory you shall see, sometime, somewhere.
Unanswered yet? Faith cannot be unanswered;
Her feet were firmly planted on the Rock;
Amid the wildest storm prayer stands undaunted,
Nor quails before the loudest thunder shock.
She knows Omnipotence has heard her prayer,
And cries, "It shall be done" sometime, somewhere.
(Charles D. Tillman, pub. 1883)
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