I Wait For Your Salvation LORD

​Meditation
Genesis 49:18—I wait for Your salvation LORD.  
 
The Hebrew word yšû‘āh occurs 78 times in the Old Testament and means salvation (47); deliver, deliverer, deliverance (11); savior, saves, saving (10); victories, victorious, victory (8); rescue (1); and safety (1).  The word is only used once in the book of Genesis by Jacob when he pronounced on his deathbed what would happen to his twelve sons.  I’m not sure if his words referred to Dan who was the seventh son he was speaking to, or if they were a personal prayer before continuing his prophetic messages to his five remaining sons.  But if the latter case is true, then it would appear that Jacob possessed a belief in the afterlife.  ​

Yšû‘āh had a variety of meanings.  In some cases, it referred to deliverance by God from physical harm (Exodus 14:13; 2 Chronicles 20:17).  It described being rescued (Psalm 70:4[5], Isaiah 33:6, 49:6—the Old Testament Great Commission).  It signified works of help (Psa. 44:4, 74:12). It spoke to God’s salvation in victory (2 Sa 22:51) and overall salvation (Psa. 116:13).  

The prophet Micah uttered similar words to Jacob when he wrote, “But I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me” (7:7).  Clearly, those who followed God long before Jesus arrived understood and believed that God was their source of help.  They looked to Him for deliverance while the majority of people trusted in gods with no ability to save.  

“I wait . . .”  The truth is all humans wait for something. Waiting is not easy is it?  It would be if life was stress-free but life has a way of introducing us to all kinds of challenges—whether they be spiritual, physical, mental, emotional or social in nature.  

“For . . .”  For is an important preposition that reveals aim or purpose.  What better aspiration is there than to hope for what God will give!

“Your . . .”  The best pronoun in all of literature is the capitalized pronoun that references God.  I don’t want to depend on anyone else when it comes to salvation.  Only the Creator of our souls and the One who purposefully formed us and breathed life into us can be trusted to safely bring us from death to eternal life.  Jesus, the Son of Man, when facing death said, “Father into Your hands I entrust My spirit” (Luke 23:46).  He modeled perfect confidence in His Father’s will and ability to save.

“Salvation LORD.”  Praise God for salvation that means for us rescue from sin-infested bodies and punishment for our transgressions; deliverance from pain and suffering; and, eternal victory in the form of life spent with our heavenly Father.  What an awesome blessing today to know that salvation comes from our Savior Jesus.  He flawlessly executed His Father’s plan to provide us deliverance.  

Six words—powerful, laden with deep meaning and meant for us to believe.  Thank you, Jacob, for you did not just speak to your sons, you spoke to us.  
 
Inspiration
If our salvation hinges on anything but the finished work of Christ on the cross, we are in trouble.—Charles Stanley in Eternal Security Can You Be Sure?

©2020 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)