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He Who Hesitates is...Part 2

Last week, I wrote about the old saying:  “he who hesitates is lost.”  It’s not a biblical proverb but it almost could be!

To hesitate means to pause before saying or doing something, especially through uncertainty.  Among other things, when you hesitate you might miss out on opportunities or find yourself experiencing negative consequences.

Last week I also mentioned a man named Lot.  His story is found in Genesis 19.  For him, too much hesitation would have resulted in death, his own!

The word “hesitation”, in some Bible translations, is translated as “waver”.  To waver, according to the dictionary, is to vacillate irresolutely between choices or fluctuate in opinion, allegiance, or direction.

How about this verse as an obvious example of wavering:

Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.” But the people didn’t answer him a word. (1 Ki 18:21)

Some modern translations use some phrases in place of the word “waver” to illustrate what the word likely means and what was going on with the people:

  • Straddle the issue
  • Stuck between
  • Sit on the fence

Elijah rightly called out the people for sitting on the fence and not making a decision.  They were stuck between opinions and it was not the place to be.  And not only that, they didn’t even have enough gumption to give a response!

But God, in His grace and mercy, demonstrated His power in a way that showed the people who they should follow.  And check out their response:

And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.”  (I Ki 18:39) 

May that be our response as we see who God really is!

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