‘Before she goes into labour,
    she gives birth;
before the pains come upon her,
    she delivers a son.
8 Who has ever heard of such things?
    Who has ever seen things like this?
Can a country be born in a day
    or a nation be brought forth in a moment?
Yet no sooner is Zion in labour
    than she gives birth to her children.
9 Do I bring to the moment of birth
    and not give delivery?’ says the Lord.
‘Do I close up the womb
    when I bring to delivery?’ says your God.
10 ‘Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her,
    all you who love her;
rejoice greatly with her,
    all you who mourn over her.
11 For you will feed and be satisfied
    at her comforting breasts;
you will drink deeply
    and delight in her overflowing abundance.’

Long may be the wait during the season of protracted prayer. But when it is the time for God to move – to fulfil His Word – things can happen unusually quickly.

Isaiah is not speaking here about post-exilic Jerusalem, but looking on to the end of history. There is a similarity with Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15: 51,52a:

”Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.”

If we sometimes feel God is not moving fast enough for our liking, we need to remember:

”The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.