Why is God waiting?

 Read Isaiah 18.

When God acts on behalf of a nation or in judgment, it affects all the surrounding nations as well.  The same is true with individuals.  With infinite wisdom, He works in everyone's lives simultaneously, in His time, to fulfill His plans.

Chapter 18 is a "woe" aimed at Ethiopia.  Apparently, there was a quick effort to align themselves with Israel to fight against the Assyrians.  Isaiah wrote a terse response in verse 2: "Go home."  All the alliances in the world would not thwart the invasion.  God wanted to use Assyria as a penalty against the sin of Israel.  Later, He would deal with the Assyrians and their sin.

In the meantime, the LORD told Isaiah in verse 4, "I will quietly look from my dwelling..."  Quietly?  Waiting? 

Isaiah knew what was going to happen, all the pieces seemed to be in place, but the LORD had not implemented the plan yet.  Indeed, the prophecy here looks even beyond Isaiah's day to the events that are still future to us.  In verses 7 and 8, all the nations including Ethiopia will make their way to Jerusalem to bring gifts the LORD.  The government will be upon His shoulders and the Prince of Peace will reign. 

What is God waiting on?  All of us have asked that question at one time or another.  If He is control and knows what He is going to do, why does He not act now?
1. He waits to judge sin.
In Genesis 15:12-16, the LORD told Abraham that his descendants would be slaves in Egypt for 400 years.  The astounding fact is that he told him 500 years in advance!  What was God waiting on?  The sin of the Amorites.  To us, it seems that there is no connection.  But if God was going to move millions of Jews into Canaan, He needed to first deal with the nation living in the north.  Like falling dominoes, one movement in the plan affects everyone else.

2. He waits for individuals to repent.
2 Peter 3:9-10, "The Lord is  not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but hat all should reach repentance."  In His grace, He waits to allow every opportunity for people to change their minds about Him and His offer of forgiveness.  When He does bring judgment, there will be no excuse.

3. He waits to reveal things yet unseen by us.
Whether it is the eternal change of a life, the movement upon a person's heart to respond in a certain way, or the supply of a need, I believe God delights in surprising us with His goodness.  Even when we are certain what God wants done, it is a walk of faith to wait upon how and when He will act.  But each time, the wait will be worth it and our faith stronger.