People Who Waited in Bible

This captivating collection showcases biblical figures known for their patience and perseverance as they waited on God's timing and promises. This gallery brings to life characters such as Abraham, who waited many years for the fulfillment of God’s promise of a son, and Simeon, who awaited the Messiah's arrival in the temple. These visual representations offer a glimpse into their enduring faith and steadfastness.

Insights with Each Image

Each image is meticulously crafted based on original biblical texts and manuscripts, with insights from Greek and Hebrew studies exploring the theological and spiritual significance of waiting in biblical narratives. Delve deeper into their stories through concise biographies, complemented by quotes from historical Christian figures, enriching the understanding of this pivotal theme in the Scriptures.

Bringing Biblical Waiting to Life

Experience the virtue of patience and the strength of faith through images that capture their detailed features, drawn from Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic texts. Highlights include:

• Original Biblical Texts: Providing foundational descriptions ensuring authentic portrayals based on Scripture.
• Historical Manuscripts: References offer deeper perspectives on the profound patience exhibited by these figures.

Engage and Explore

Embark on an educational journey through the lives of figures like Joseph, who endured years in prison before seeing God's plan unfold, and Anna the Prophetess, who spent decades in the temple praying and waiting for the deliverance of Jerusalem. Learn about their challenges, the steadfastness of their wait, and the divine fulfillment they witnessed. This structured and enriching presentation invites viewers to immerse themselves in Scripture’s depiction of waiting like never before, ensuring a dynamic and engaging experience with biblical history. Notable quotes from famous historical Christian figures include:

Hannah: 1 Samuel 1:20 (KJV) – "Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord."

📖 Bible Reference: Genesis 6:3 (KJV) – "And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years."

🔎 Context:
Noah waited 120 years while building the ark as God had commanded. After the flood, he and his family started anew, receiving God's covenant of the rainbow as a promise never to destroy the earth by flood again.

📖 Interesting Facts About Noah’s Waiting:

• Noah was 500 years old when he had his sons (Genesis 5:32).
• God gave Noah specific measurements for the ark (Genesis 6:14-16).
• He faced ridicule while building the ark for over a century.
• The flood lasted 40 days, but Noah stayed in the ark over a year (Genesis 8:14-16).
• The rainbow was God’s covenant sign to Noah (Genesis 9:13-17).

⏳ How Long He Waited: 120 years

📖 Genesis 41:46 (KJV)
"And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt."

📜 Context:
Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and falsely imprisoned before being elevated to second-in-command of Egypt.

🔎 What Happened After the Exhortation:
Joseph’s faithfulness during suffering led to him interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams and saving Egypt and his own family from famine.

Interesting Facts About Joseph’s Faith

• Joseph waited thirteen years from slavery to his promotion (Genesis 41:46).
• He trusted God despite being forgotten in prison for two years (Genesis 40:23, 41:1).
• His faith was tested when he endured false accusations from Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:12-20).
• He recognized God’s hand in his hardships, telling his brothers, "God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20).
• Joseph remained faithful to God's promises despite years of uncertainty (Genesis 39:2-3).

📖 Exodus 7:7 (KJV)
"And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh."

📜 Context:
Moses fled Egypt and spent 40 years in Midian before God called him to lead Israel.

🔎 What Happened After the Exhortation:
Moses returned to Egypt, confronted Pharaoh, and led Israel out of slavery.

Interesting Facts About Moses’ Waiting

• He lived 40 years in Egypt before fleeing (Acts 7:23-29).
• He spent 40 years in Midian as a shepherd (Exodus 3:1).
• He was 80 years old when God called him to deliver Israel (Exodus 7:7).
• God performed miracles through Moses to prove His power (Exodus 7:10-12).
• His waiting prepared him for leadership and faith (Exodus 3:12)

📖 1 Samuel 1:20 (KJV)
"Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord."

📜 Context:
Hannah longed for a child and prayed fervently for God to bless her with a son.

🔎 What Happened After the Exhortation:
God answered her prayer, and she gave birth to Samuel, dedicating him to God.

Interesting Facts About Hannah’s Waiting

• Hannah suffered ridicule from her husband’s other wife (1 Samuel 1:6).
• She wept bitterly and made a vow to dedicate her child to God (1 Samuel 1:11).
• Eli, the priest, thought she was drunk due to her intense prayers (1 Samuel 1:13-14).
• God granted her a son, and she named him Samuel, meaning 'heard by God' (1 Samuel 1:20).
• She fulfilled her vow by dedicating Samuel to serve in the temple (1 Samuel 1:27-28).

📖 2 Samuel 5:4 (KJV)
"David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years."

📜 Context:
David was anointed king as a young man but had to wait years before ascending to the throne.

🔎 What Happened After the Exhortation:
David endured trials, fleeing from Saul before finally becoming king of Judah, then all Israel.

Interesting Facts About David’s Waiting

• David was anointed as king while still a shepherd boy (1 Samuel 16:1-13).
• He served in Saul’s court before becoming a fugitive (1 Samuel 18:10-11).
• David spared Saul’s life twice despite being hunted (1 Samuel 24:10, 26:9-11).
• He became king of Judah first, then all Israel years later (2 Samuel 2:4, 5:3).
• His time of waiting prepared him to be a godly leader (Psalm 78:70-72).

📖 Job 42:10 (KJV)

"And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before."

📜 Context:
Job lost everything—his wealth, children, and health—but remained faithful to God.

🔎 What Happened After the Exhortation:
God restored Job’s fortune, blessing him with twice what he had before.

Interesting Facts About Job’s Waiting

• Job lost all ten of his children in one day (Job 1:18-19).
• His friends wrongly accused him of sin (Job 4:7-8).
• He refused to curse God despite his suffering (Job 2:9-10).
• God finally answered him, affirming His sovereignty (Job 38:1-3).
• In the end, Job was blessed with more than he lost (Job 42:12-13).

📖 Luke 1:13 (KJV)
"But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John."

📜 Context:
Elizabeth and her husband, Zacharias, were righteous but childless. They waited for years before God granted them a son.

🔎 What Happened After the Exhortation:
Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus.

Interesting Facts About Elizabeth’s Waiting

• She was barren for many years before conceiving (Luke 1:7).
• Her husband, Zacharias, doubted the angel’s message and was struck mute (Luke 1:20).
• Elizabeth hid herself for five months after conceiving (Luke 1:24).
• Her son, John, was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth (Luke 1:15).
• Mary visited Elizabeth, and John leaped in her womb at Jesus’ presence (Luke 1:41-44).

📖 Luke 2:26 (KJV)
"And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ."

📜 Context:
Simeon was a devout man who longed to see the Messiah before his death.

🔎 What Happened After the Exhortation:
His waiting ended when he held baby Jesus in the temple, fulfilling God’s promise.

Interesting Facts About Simeon’s Waiting

• Simeon was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25).
• The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would see Christ before he died (Luke 2:26).
• When he saw Jesus, he declared Him as the salvation of the world (Luke 2:30-32).
• He blessed Mary and Joseph, prophesying Jesus’ role and suffering (Luke 2:34-35).
• His patience and faith were rewarded by witnessing God’s promise fulfilled (Luke 2:28-29).

📖 John 11:6 (KJV)
"When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was."

📜 Context:
Mary and Martha sent for Jesus when their brother Lazarus was sick, but Jesus delayed His arrival.

🔎 What Happened After the Exhortation:
Jesus arrived after Lazarus had died but performed a great miracle by raising him.

Interesting Facts About Mary and Martha’s Waiting

• Jesus deliberately delayed two days before going to Bethany (John 11:6).
• Martha expressed faith, believing Jesus could still act (John 11:21-22).
• Mary fell at Jesus’ feet, grieving but trusting Him (John 11:32).
• Jesus wept, showing His compassion and love (John 11:35).
• Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb, proving His power over death (John 11:43-44).

📖 Acts 9:9 (KJV)
"And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink."

📜 Context:
Saul was struck blind on the road to Damascus after encountering Jesus.

🔎 What Happened After the Exhortation:
After three days, Ananias restored Saul’s sight, and he became Paul, the great apostle.

Interesting Facts About Paul’s Waiting

• Saul was persecuting Christians before encountering Christ (Acts 9:1-2).
• Jesus appeared to him in a vision, calling him to serve (Acts 9:3-5).
• He was struck blind for three days, unable to eat or drink (Acts 9:9).
• Ananias laid hands on Saul, and his sight was restored (Acts 9:17-18).
• Saul was baptized and began preaching Christ immediately (Acts 9:20).

📖 Matthew 2:9 (KJV)
"When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was."

📜 Context:
The Magi, or Wise Men, followed a star to find and worship Jesus, the newborn King.

🔎 What Happened After the Exhortation:
After a long journey, they presented gifts to Jesus and were divinely warned in a dream to avoid Herod.

Interesting Facts About the Magi’s Waiting

• The Magi traveled from the East, likely Persia or Babylon (Matthew 2:1).
• They studied prophecy and celestial signs to locate Jesus (Numbers 24:17).
• They presented gold, frankincense, and myrrh as symbolic gifts (Matthew 2:11).
• Herod deceitfully asked them to report back, fearing a rival king (Matthew 2:8).
• God warned them in a dream to return home another way (Matthew 2:12).

📖 Luke 1:20 (KJV)
"And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed."

📜 Context:
Zacharias doubted the angel’s message that his wife, Elizabeth, would bear a son.

🔎 What Happened After the Exhortation:
He was unable to speak until the prophecy was fulfilled with John’s birth, after which he praised God.

Interesting Facts About Zacharias’ Waiting

• Zacharias was a priest who served in the temple when the angel appeared (Luke 1:8-11).
• He doubted the angel Gabriel’s message due to his and Elizabeth’s old age (Luke 1:18).
• His muteness served as a sign of God’s power and faithfulness (Luke 1:22).
• Elizabeth conceived despite being barren, fulfilling God’s promise (Luke 1:24-25).
• After writing that the child’s name would be John, his voice returned (Luke 1:63-64).

📖 Nehemiah 2:1 (KJV)
"And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence."

📜 Context:
Nehemiah prayed and waited for months before asking King Artaxerxes for permission to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.

🔎 What Happened After the Exhortation:
The king granted his request, and Nehemiah successfully led the rebuilding efforts despite opposition.

Interesting Facts About Nehemiah’s Waiting

• Nehemiah heard about Jerusalem’s broken walls and mourned for days (Nehemiah 1:3-4).
• He fasted and prayed before making his request to the king (Nehemiah 1:5-11).
• He waited until the right moment to reveal his burden to Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 2:1-4).
• God gave him favor, and the king granted him permission and supplies (Nehemiah 2:5-8).
• Despite opposition, Nehemiah completed the wall in just 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15).

📖 Ruth 4:1 (KJV)
"Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down."

📜 Context:
Boaz desired to marry Ruth but had to wait for legal matters to be settled with a closer kinsman.

🔎 What Happened After the Waiting:
The kinsman relinquished his claim, allowing Boaz to marry Ruth, and they became the great-grandparents of King David.

Interesting Facts About Boaz’s Waiting

• Boaz followed legal customs to redeem Ruth properly (Ruth 4:5-6).
• He displayed patience and integrity rather than taking matters into his own hands (Ruth 3:12-13).
• Boaz’s faithfulness aligned him with God’s plan for Israel’s royal lineage (Ruth 4:17).
• His redemption of Ruth foreshadowed Christ’s redemption of the Church (Ephesians 5:25).
• Through Ruth and Boaz, God preserved the messianic lineage leading to Jesus (Matthew 1:5).

📖 1 Kings 18:1 (KJV)
"And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth."

📜 Context:
Elijah waited three years for rain while Israel suffered under divine judgment for idolatry.

🔎 What Happened After the Waiting:
Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal, and God sent fire from heaven, proving His power. Shortly after, rain returned to the land.

Interesting Facts About Elijah’s Waiting

• God hid Elijah by the brook Cherith and provided for him through ravens (1 Kings 17:3-6).
• He stayed with a widow in Zarephath, where God miraculously provided food (1 Kings 17:8-16).
• During the drought, Elijah raised the widow’s son from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24).
• After the showdown at Mount Carmel, Elijah prayed persistently for rain (1 Kings 18:42-45).
• His faith was tested, but he remained steadfast in God’s promise (James 5:17-18).

📖 2 Kings 2:9 (KJV)
"And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me."

📜 Context:
Elisha faithfully served Elijah for years, waiting until his master was taken to heaven.

🔎 What Happened After the Waiting:
Elisha received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit and performed miracles as Israel’s prophet.

Interesting Facts About Elisha’s Waiting

• Elisha left his family and wealth to follow Elijah (1 Kings 19:19-21).
• He served Elijah for about eight years before taking on his prophetic role (2 Kings 2:1-12).
• Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, which God granted (2 Kings 2:9-10).
• His first miracle was parting the Jordan River with Elijah’s mantle (2 Kings 2:14).
• Elisha performed twice as many miracles as Elijah, fulfilling his request (2 Kings 13:20-21).

📖 Genesis 21:5 (KJV)
"And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him."

📜 Context:
God promised Abraham and Sarah a son, but they waited many years before the promise was fulfilled.

🔎 What Happened After the Waiting:
When Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90, they gave birth to Isaac, proving that God’s promises always come true.

Interesting Facts About Abraham and Sarah’s Waiting

• Abraham was 75 years old when God promised him a son (Genesis 12:4).
• Sarah initially laughed at the idea of bearing a child at her age (Genesis 18:12-14).
• They waited 25 years before Isaac was finally born (Genesis 21:5).
• Abraham’s faith was tested when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:2).
• Through Isaac, God fulfilled His covenant promise to make Abraham a great nation (Genesis 17:6-7).

📖 Esther 4:16 (KJV)
"Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish."

📜 Context:
Esther was chosen as queen, but when the Jews were threatened, she had to wait and fast before pleading for their deliverance.

🔎 What Happened After the Waiting:
Esther approached King Ahasuerus, exposing Haman’s plot, and saved her people from destruction.

Interesting Facts About Esther’s Waiting

• Esther was an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai (Esther 2:7).
• She was selected as queen after King Ahasuerus dismissed Vashti (Esther 2:17).
• Esther risked death by approaching the king without being summoned (Esther 4:11).
• Her waiting in fasting and prayer strengthened her courage (Esther 4:16).
• Haman, the enemy of the Jews, was ultimately hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai (Esther 7:10).

📖 Daniel 9:2 (KJV)
"In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem."

📜 Context:
Daniel waited for God’s promise to be fulfilled concerning Israel’s return from Babylonian captivity.

🔎 What Happened After the Waiting:
Daniel’s prayers and faithfulness helped bring about the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy that the exile would last 70 years.

Interesting Facts About Daniel’s Waiting

• Daniel was taken into Babylonian captivity as a young man (Daniel 1:3-6).
• He remained faithful to God, even in a foreign land (Daniel 1:8).
• Daniel interpreted dreams for King Nebuchadnezzar and King Belshazzar (Daniel 2:28, 5:13-17).
• He continued praying, even when it led to being thrown into the lions’ den (Daniel 6:10).
• His waiting ended when King Cyrus allowed the Israelites to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-3).