The Great Expectation: Who Was Israel Waiting For?

Brothers and Sisters, do you remember the anticipation? The longing? The weight of prophecy hanging in the air, thick as the dust of the wilderness? Samuel the Lamanite, standing upon the wall, proclaiming the signs – he knew what was coming. Ammon, at the Waters of Sebus, saw the pillar of fire and the darkness, a tangible witness to the unfolding of God’s plan. They understood that a great expectation was poised to be fulfilled.

We often read the Old Testament, dutifully going through the stories of Adam, Noah, Abraham, David… but do we truly grasp the underlying current, the *expectation* that drove the hearts of those ancient Saints? It wasn’t merely the anticipation of an event, but the arrival of a person. And not just any person. They looked forward to seeing God.

Think about it. Isaiah, seven centuries before Christ’s birth, declared: “Lo, this is our God: we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord.” (Isaiah 25:9) Not just “the Lord,” but Yahweh, the sacred name, the Tetragrammaton – the very essence of the God of Israel.

This isn't some abstract theological exercise. This expectation, this divine promise, is the bedrock upon which the New Testament is built. It’s the key that unlocks the mystery of God's plan, the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. It’s the Stone cut without hands, the five smooth stones that David gathered to face Goliath – symbols of divine power and unexpected victory.

Charles Jennings, in this teaching, illuminates a crucial truth: Jesus Christ is that God. He’s the God of the Old Covenant, the God of the New Covenant – one and the same. He manifested in flesh, proving His deity through His virgin birth, His baptism, His sinless life, and ultimately, His sacrifice for us.

Consider the profound statement from 1 Peter 3:18: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.” The writer emphasizes Jesus’s righteousness, His perfection – a stark contrast to our own imperfections. He was tempted as we are, yet without sin. This is a distinction without equal in all of human history.

And as Hebrews 4:15 reminds us, “We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” He understands our struggles, our weaknesses, our sins, because He experienced them in a unique, perfect way.

This understanding – that Jesus is the God of Israel, the fulfillment of the great expectation – transforms our relationship with Him. It strengthens our faith, fuels our courage, and compels us to action. It’s a call to be Builders, not Destroyers, to actively participate in the gathering of Israel, both physically and spiritually.

How do we participate? Through the Missionary Fund, supporting internet missionaries like Outback Jack who are sharing this message across the globe. Through the Charity Flywheel, where your engagement here directly funds gospel advertising in places like Ghana, reaching those who are also seeking, longing, waiting. And through the Map of Churches, claiming your church’s place in this global movement.

Let us be those who recognize the magnitude of this moment, who stand with Samuel on the wall, proclaiming the truth with boldness and reverence. Let us be those who, like Ammon, witness the signs and understand the unfolding of God's plan. The great expectation has been fulfilled. Let us live in the light of that truth and actively participate in the work of gathering Israel. Let us build.