Luke 18:1-8 Parable of the unrelenting widow

When you have been waiting on God for a long time in prayer, it becomes a challenge to stay in faith. So Jesus gives us this parable to encourage us to always pray and not relent. There are 3 characters in this parable: the widow, the Judge and the adversary.

There was a widow. She is a widow. She is vulnerable. The adversary has come and violated her life. She has no money. All she has is a cry that she can lift up to an evil judge. The widow did not go to the adversary for justice. She went to the one who had authority over the adversary. And she said to him: Get justice for me. Even though the judge was evil but because the widow cry out to him day and night and will not relent, the judge avenge her of her adversary.

And shall not God bring about justice for his own chosen ones, which cry day and night to him, though he bear long with them?

Why the answer does tarries long

But why does God waits a long time before he answers. In this parable, Jesus says that He bears long with them. Why does He wait a long time to answer?

And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore he will rise up that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of justice: blessed are all they that wait for him.( Isaiah 30:18)

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.(Isaiah 64:4).But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31)

Because Abraham stood before the presence of the LORD and waited upon Him, the bible says that his faith grew strong. He did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.( Romans 4:20-21). We are to follow in the footsteps of Abraham. Be you followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises of God.

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.(Habakkuk 2:3)

The man who perseveres under trial is blessed

This man is letting patience do its perfect work in him. He is climbing uphill and he is facing a heavy load of trials as the devil tries to stop his progress. But because he has persevered God has now become his strength. He has matured. He has become strong in the LORD and in the power of his might to stand.

You have heard of the patience of Job

The patience of Job is remarkable. James 5 says that we are to imitate the patience of Job. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The words perseverance and finally seems to suggest a long period of time.

How long did Job’s trial last? The bible does not say but we know that God gave him twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10).

Job lived for 140 years after his trials. If Job lived for 140 years after his trials, then God also gave Job double the years to live. If God gave him double to live, Job would have been 70 at the time his trials began .This being the case, he would have lived to be 210 years old.

The indication is that God restored back to Job all the years in captivity and also gave him more years to live on both totaling 140 years. We don’t know how many years the captivity was, but it would have been LONG- a good 40 years or even 70 years.

Job received double his former wealth. The double portion is the 1^st born blessings. The firstborn son was to receive twice as much of an inheritance as any other son in the family.

When that man assigns his inheritance to his sons he must not appoint the son of the beloved wife as the firstborn over the son of the unloved wife. Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the first fruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him. (Deuteronomy 21:16-17 BSB)

Israel was called God’s firstborn. When you come to Mount Zion, you enter into the double blessings inheritance. The church is called the church of the first born.To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (Hebrews 12:23)

Job became perfected in his faith. There came a day when the whirlwind of God came and visited Job. The skies rolled back and Job beheld the throne of God. Speaking of this powerful encounter Job says: I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear but now my eye sees you. There was a redemptive purpose in the long wait. We see God getting a man ready to have a face to face encounter with Him in the holy of holies on Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem the place of the throne room

During the waiting time Job did not waver in faith but his faith grew strong and his hope in God abounded yet more and more until perseverance had finished its work causing Job to stand mature complete lacking anything in God. A perfect man to the measure of the statute of the fullness of Christ. Look at the caliber this man Job had attained to. In Ezekiel 14:14 he is mentioned along with Daniel as one who have attained compromised righteousness.

Daniel’s life was one of compromised righteousness from his youth all the way to his old age. In his youth Daniel purposed in his heart not to be defiled with the portion of the king’s meant. In his old age Daniel got thrown into the lion’s den because of his stand for righteousness. His life was one of unwavering unshakable righteousness. What a testimony what a legacy to leave behind to your children and children’s children.

The cry for justice includes both restoration and restitution

Restoration says you have to give Joseph his freedom back, but restitution says you have to give him more for all the years he spent in prisons. You have to give him the throne.  Restoration says you have to give Elizabeth a baby. Restitution says this girl has lived a lifetime of reproach and shame of barrenness. You have to give him a prophet but more than a prophet. A voice crying out in the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD.

Proverbs 6:32 a thief when he is found must restore 7 fold. This proverbs says that a thief when he is brought to justice, he must restore as much as 7 fold to his victim.

Do not relent

You cannot get your salvation from your doctor, your medication. Their only one source of salvation. God is your refuge and strength. A very present help in time of trouble. Therefore do not give up. Do not relent. You have a just claim. Lift up your cry to God. Continue to stand before his presence day and night. Even though the answer tarries let patience do its perfect work in you. When the answer comes, it will come suddenly. Everything changed for Joseph in just one day.

As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered (James 5:11)