Learn the Story of God and of the Old Testament

 Season 8: Faith in a Foreign Land

8.6 Waiting for the Messiah

God's people look toward Jerusalem with hope and expectation as they wait for the promised Messiah foretold by the prophets.

Waiting for the Messiah: Hope Before the Savior Came
As the Old Testament closes, God’s people continue waiting with hope for the promised Messiah. Though generations passed and silence settled over the land, God’s promises remained alive and pointed toward the coming of Jesus Christ.

 

Learn the Story of God and of the Old Testament

Season 8: Faith in a Foreign Land

8.6 Waiting for the Messiah

Waiting for the Messiah: Hope Before the Savior Came

As the Old Testament closes, God’s people continue waiting with hope for the promised Messiah. Though generations passed and silence settled over the land, God’s promises remained alive and pointed toward the coming of Jesus Christ.

The Temple had been rebuilt.

Jerusalem’s walls stood once again.

God’s people had renewed their covenant and restored worship.

Yet something was still missing.

The promises spoken by the prophets had not yet been fully fulfilled.

The people continued waiting for the Messiah — the promised Savior who would bring lasting peace, redemption, and restoration.
 

The final books of the Old Testament close with expectation and longing.

God had spoken through prophets for generations.

Now a period of silence began.

For hundreds of years, no new prophet appeared.

Yet God’s promises remained alive.

The Old Testament ends not in despair, but in hope.

The story was unfinished because God was still preparing the world for the coming of Jesus Christ.

Scripture References

Malachi 3–4
Isaiah 40
Daniel 7

Key Passages

Malachi 3:1
Malachi 4:2
Isaiah 40:3–5
Daniel 7:13–14

Related Reading

Luke 1:26–38
John 1:1–14
Galatians 4:4–5

The Story

After the exile and rebuilding seasons, God’s people continued living under foreign empires and rulers.

Persia gave way to Greece.

Greece eventually gave way to Rome.

The people longed for freedom, justice, and the fulfillment of God’s promises.

The prophets had spoken of:

  • a coming King
  • a suffering servant
  • a messenger who would prepare the way
  • a kingdom that would never end

Still, generations passed without seeing those promises fully completed.

The prophet Malachi delivered one of the final Old Testament messages.

He warned the people about careless worship and spiritual complacency.

Yet he also proclaimed hope:

The sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.”
(Malachi 4:2 NASB)

The Old Testament closes with anticipation.

God’s people waited.

They worshiped.

They prayed.

They remembered the promises.

And though the world often seemed dark and uncertain, God was still at work preparing for the arrival of the Messiah.

Eventually, in the fullness of time, God sent Jesus Christ into the world.

Understanding the Story

God’s Timing Requires Patience

Generations waited for the Messiah.

God’s promises were not forgotten, even when fulfillment seemed delayed.

Faith often involves trusting God’s timing.

Hope Continues Even During Silence

The period between the Old and New Testaments is sometimes called “the silent years.”

Yet God was still working behind the scenes.

Silence does not mean absence.

The Old Testament Points Forward to Jesus

From Genesis onward, the Old Testament consistently points toward the coming Savior.

The promises, sacrifices, kings, prophets, and covenants all prepare the way for Christ.

Waiting Can Strengthen Faith

Waiting is difficult.

Yet waiting also teaches trust, perseverance, and hope.

God’s people learned to hold onto His promises even when they could not yet see fulfillment.

Why This Story Matters

The closing of the Old Testament teaches important lessons.

Why were the people waiting for the Messiah?

God had promised a Savior who would bring redemption and restoration.

What happened during the years of silence?

God continued preparing the world for Christ’s coming.

Why is hope important during waiting seasons?

Hope reminds believers that God’s promises remain trustworthy.

How does the Old Testament connect to Jesus?

The entire story prepares the way for His arrival.

Connecting to Jesus

Season 8 ends where the New Testament begins.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises carried throughout the Old Testament.

He is:

  • the promised Messiah
  • the descendant of David
  • the suffering servant of Isaiah
  • the new covenant promised through Jeremiah
  • the eternal King seen by Daniel
  • the true Temple where God’s presence dwells

Every season of the Old Testament story ultimately points toward Christ.

Living the Message

Waiting for the Messiah encourages believers to trust God’s promises.

This week:

  • Trust God during seasons of waiting or uncertainty.
  • Spend time reflecting on promises fulfilled through Jesus.
  • Read the opening chapters of one Gospel and notice how they connect to the Old Testament.
  • Encourage someone who may feel discouraged while waiting for answers or direction.
  • Remember that God is always working, even when His timing feels slow.

    Reflect and Discuss

    Why did God’s people continue hoping for the Messiah?

    Possible answers:
    God had promised a Savior and faithful King.

    What can believers learn from seasons of waiting?

    Possible answers:
    Patience, trust, perseverance, and hope.

    Why is the Old Testament important for understanding Jesus?

    Possible answers:
    It prepares the way for His coming and explains God’s plan of redemption.

    How does Jesus fulfill Old Testament promises?

    Possible answers:
    Through His life, teachings, death, resurrection, and eternal kingdom.

    GROW Framework

    Grounded in Scripture

    The closing promises of the Old Testament point toward God’s ultimate redemption through Jesus Christ.

    Reasons We Believe

    God faithfully fulfilled His promises through the coming of the Messiah.

    Obedience in Action

    Trust God’s timing and remain faithful during waiting seasons.

    Walk It Out

    Choose one promise from Scripture this week and reflect on how it strengthens your hope and trust in God.

    Season 8 Review: Faith in a Foreign Land

    In Season 8 we have learned:

    Esther: Courage for Such a Time as This

    God works through courageous faithfulness.

    Ezra and the Return to Jerusalem

    Spiritual renewal begins through worship and Scripture.

    Rebuilding the Temple

    God strengthens His people during rebuilding seasons.

    Nehemiah Rebuilds the Walls

    Prayer and perseverance help restore what is broken.

    A People Renew Their Covenant

    God’s Word renews hearts and communities.

    Waiting for the Messiah

    God’s promises point forward to Jesus Christ.

    The Old Testament Ends with Expectation

    The final pages of the Old Testament leave God’s people waiting with hope, longing, and anticipation for the coming Messiah.

    Though centuries would pass before Christ’s birth, God was still working behind the scenes to prepare the world for the Savior.

    Looking Ahead: The Story Continues

    For generations, God’s people waited for the promised Savior.

    The prophets had spoken of a coming Messiah — a King from the line of David, a suffering servant, a light to the nations, and One who would bring salvation, peace, and restoration.

    Then the prophetic voices grew silent.

    For hundreds of years, God’s people waited.

    Empires rose and fell.

    Nations changed.

    The world prepared for something greater still.

    During the silent years, God’s people lived under foreign empires, continued worshiping in synagogues and at the Temple, celebrated the biblical feasts, and waited for the fulfillment of God’s promises.

    When the time was right, God sent His Son.

    The story of the Old Testament now leads us into the story of Jesus Christ.

    What We Have Learned

    Through the story of the Old Testament, we have seen:

    • God as Creator, Deliverer, Judge, Shepherd, and King
    • God’s covenant promises
    • humanity’s need for salvation
    • faith tested through difficult seasons
    • the rise and fall of kingdoms
    • prophets calling people back to God
    • the promise of a coming Messiah
    • God preparing the world for redemption

      Promises Pointing to Jesus

      The Old Testament repeatedly points forward to the coming Messiah.

      Prophecies spoke of:

      • His birth
      • His lineage
      • His suffering
      • His kingdom
      • His mission
      • His victory

      These promises prepare us for the arrival of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

      The Story Is Connected

      The Bible is not a collection of disconnected stories.

      From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture reveals God’s plan to redeem and restore the world through Jesus Christ.

      Reflection Questions

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

  • Continue Learning

    • Learn the Story of Jesus
    • Season 1 — Waiting for the Savior
    • The Silent Years
    • Understanding Jesus: Cultural Insights
    • Feasts and Festivals in the Time of Jesus
    • Foundations of Faith
    • Worship Resources

      The Story Is Connected

      The Bible is not a collection of disconnected stories.

      From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture reveals God’s plan to redeem and restore the world through Jesus Christ.

      Reflection Questions

      • Why do you think God’s people longed so deeply for a Savior?
      • How did God continue working even during seasons of silence?
      • What Old Testament promises are fulfilled in Jesus?
      • How does the Old Testament help us better understand Christ?

        The story is not over.

        The promised Savior is coming.

        As we continue into Learn the Story of Jesus, we will discover how God fulfilled His promises through the birth, life, teachings, death, resurrection, and return of Jesus Christ.

        Join us as the story continues.

        Learn more about Christian discipleship and spiritual growth through worship, study, prayer, service, and daily faith at PGUM.org.