On Not Understanding: Blessed is He who Waits & Arrives

A few days ago I was reading the last chapter of Daniel. This chapter is one with more questions than answers for my brain, mostly because it is full of symbolism and prophecy. Someday I'll go back and study it further. In short, I don't understand a lot of it.

Not understanding. That phrase alone became the theme of what I read in Daniel 12. Please read this passage from the ESV (courtesy of BibleGateway.com):

5Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream,[b] "How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?"

7And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.

8 I heard, but I did not understand.

Then I said, "O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?"

9He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.

10Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. 11And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days.

12Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days."

From my journal 10/30/06:

Question: How content am I to accept this answer: "Go your way, your answer will not come til the end of time "?

Realization: Such an answer is an answer.

Vs. 12: Blessed is he who waits...and arrives....But go your way til the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.

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I seldom appreciate having to wait for an answer. But I do appreciate someone saying "I don't have an answer for you, but I'm looking into it." Or, "If you don't mind waiting, I'll have an answer for you ASAP." At least I know they're not just ignoring me or "dissin'" my request. However, I had to look at God's Word from the viewpoint of eternity. Some things I ask in my heart, my mind, on paper, out loud--whatever--are put into God's Wait File. (Kind of like the way I used to think that pressing "delete" meant a document was gone forever. Then I learned that almost everything goes into the Recycle Bin where I can retrieve it. Certain answers I am waiting for will necessarily not be retrievable--by God's design and decree-- till the end of time. Can I wait that long? )

I think I've learned to trust God enough that I understand that it's okay not to understand. To God's credit, I wrestle with the "what ifs?" and the "why me" kinds of questions less often than I used to. I have also grown in waiting for His answer because I have seen time and again the better thing He had in store than that which I asked for or expected. Not that I don't ask any questions about what I don't understand or agree with. I can be very impatient and demanding, to my shame. I'm just saying I've seen growth in this area.

No, it's not that I have arrived. But this verse reminds me that I will arrive and I will stand in the place He's allotted for me at The End of Time.