Joel M Bradshaw

1And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”–Luke 18 (with emphasis)

This is a famous parable on prayer. And just so there is no confusion, Jesus was not saying God the Father is that unrighteous judge. That judge selfishly wanted to stop being bothered. So let’s look at the concluding words here. I underlined them above.

1. Will not God give justice to His elect, who cry out to him day and night?
2. Will he delay long over them?
3. When the (one day returning) Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?

If you are a fan of the TV show, The Chosen, then the Greek word Jesus used for the elect is for you. It means those chosen or elected. Remember Jesus chose his 12 before they each chose him. God elects or chooses those who will respond in faith.

God will answer the prayers of his elect. Since God is sovereign, his timing is also sovereign. So his answers to prayers are not late, but always on time. So will God find his people continuing to faithfully trust both Him and His timing?

So don’t give up in you prayers to God. Keep trusting that He is both God and good and handles his business according to his timetable. We understand that the unrighteous judge was not to represent our righteous God. But the persistent widow who wore out her judge WAS to represent us. Just try to annoy God and wear him out in your persistent trusting of Him. I dare you.–JMB