Part 4 | The Only True God – God is Patient

By Sunny Kundhi

Friday 29th January 2010

This particular attribute is linked very closely with grace and kindness. Often words like mercy, grace, longsuffering and patience are used interchangeably; here the focus will primarily be on patience and longsuffering whilst briefly touching on kindness, mercy and grace.

As mentioned in the previous studies, God’s attributes fall in two categories: communicable and incommunicable. This attribute is very much communicable, meaning we can exercise this to a measure. We also find in Galatians 5:22 that longsuffering and patience are fruits of the spirit and are some of the distinguishing marks of the believer.

We live in a world where patience is no longer valued or sought after but rather the opposite is prevalent. Observe drivers on the road when someone makes a mistake; work colleagues when things aren’t going their way or family and friends when something goes wrong. We are all quick to anger and lose patience, and this for the most part is done when our anger is unwarranted. In contrast, God demonstrates His patience towards His people and towards sinners throughout the Old and New Testament, examples of which will be given below.

But what does it mean by the longsuffering of God? What are the implications of God being patient? What effect will these truths have on our day to day lives?

Meanings of the word

The Hebrew word Mypa Kra literally signifies “long of both nostrils” at times it referrers to longsuffering” and sometimes “slow to anger”. NT: Greek words makroyumew, and makroyumia is also referred to the nose, but has other meanings such as: the seat of anger, which restrains or shows it, as it is long or contracted.

The Collins dictionary reads: to be of a long spirit, not to lose heart; to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles; to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others. To be mild and slow in avenging, to be slow to anger, to be slow to punish.  Synonyms include: self control, tolerant, accommodating, self restrained, able to put off, waits, suffers long

Generally the idea of God being longsuffering is the ability to endure and allow everything that is necessary for a particular purpose or goal.

A few things we need to understand about God’s patience and longsuffering

The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. He’s powerful, but it’s a patient power. (Nahum 1:3)

The phrases “slow to anger” and “great in power” appear to be conflicting or contradictory statements however the scriptures suggest they work together perfectly.  This ability to be slow to anger is a display of power.  The more one can subject anger, the greater his power.  Longsuffering is by no means a sign of weakness, and patience does not mean that God is incapable to punish or get angry.  Quite simply it means God holds back His anger.

God’s patience and longsuffering is not like ours, it is not conditional, temporal or temperamental.  It is in His build up, it is who He is.  It is His essence and the very nature of God.  He cannot be separate from it because He is the epitome of it.

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth (Exodus 34:6)

But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. (Psalm 86:15)

As we read from the above scriptures His mercy is very much attached to His longsuffering and patience, however one day unlike His mercy, His longsuffering will be accounted for.  Certainly God is slow to anger, but this doesn’t mean He will never get angry, quite contrarily His anger will be quenched and His wrath satisfied. 

God does not lose His anger, He is absolutely in control of it at all times and knows exactly when to unleash it. In contrast our plans and purposes continually get altered or fail because we get angry and lose control. God is not like that. hatever God has purposed and planned will happen and nothing can halt that. No man can stand in His way, no sinner can provoke Him to anger and no devil in hell can frustrate Him.  Assuredly He will accomplish his purpose. Let the saint can rejoice and be glad that the Lord indeed is longsuffering toward us and that we will not face His fierce fury but rather be engulfed by His love. But what is the reason behind this attribute? 

Spurgoen writes:

Therefore, I say, the longsuffering of God is enhanced in its wonderfulness by the fact that he is under no necessity to exercise it except that which springs out of his own love.

Examples of God’s patience and longsuffering

We must see that God is patient and longsuffering toward all men without exception, saved and not saved, to the saint and to the wicked.  However, as mentioned previously, those who God is withholding his wrath from for a period, still will experience that wrath in the future. He withholds that same wrath from his people in order to show mercy to them later.  (We will learn more about this when studying the forgiveness and Grace of God).

The longsuffering of God is exercised towards the ungodly

We do see instances of God showing His anger (Ananias & Sapphira in the book of Acts and Nadab & Abihu in the book of Leviticus) but God has also shown remarkable patience towards the ungodly.

David spoke to God on numerous occasions enquiring: How long will my enemy have victory? How long will you let them live in ungodliness? How long will they live in prosperity and enjoy their sin whilst I live in pain?

We too may ask those questions when we hear the news about raping, molestation, sinful celebrities who seem to have it all, but we must realise that God is in control of His anger and although we try to assume the role of His anger bearers, He will not let the wicked get away. Everyone will give an account for their wickedness and Justice will be met.

The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. (Numbers 14:18)

God not only comforts us in this regard but also gives us the great privilege to stand in the Gap for the perverse generation we live in.  Because of His love for us He forebears and suffers long for the people we pray for. We all have loved ones who are not saved and there is nothing more we desire than to see them saved. God who is omniscient (all knowing) knows this; therefore He is longsuffering towards them on our behalf.

An example of this is given in the book of Genesis when God was willing to listen to Abraham before destroying Sodom because Abraham found favour in God’s eyes. If you are a believer, recognise that God knows your longing to see your loved ones saved, and He desires that too. Continue being a light to them and remain faithful in patience until they come to Him.

The longsuffering of God towards the wicked – Pharaoh

 John Flavel writes:

Longsuffering is an ability or power in God not only to delay the execution of His wrath for a time towards some, but to delay it in order to show grace in the salvation of others

Pharaoh was the richest and most powerful man in the land. After numerous requests and warnings from Moses in addition to all the wonders (plagues) Pharaoh was still reluctant to let the Hebrew people leave. Pharaoh was losing everything He lived for: his wealth, health, food and family yet was still unwilling to let God’s people go to worship Him. His heart was very much hardened, yet God let it be and bore with it.

I dread to think what would become of governments, powers and men who fiercely prevent people from worshiping God. There is currently a bill being discussed to demolish all non Muslim places of worship in the Maldives. Other places are violently stopping Christians from gathering together because they realise what unity there is amongst them.

Pharaoh seemed to have repented, cried, and even promised to let them go; however he withdrew his permission and ordered them to stay. God knows when repentance is false; He see’s right through the tears and looks right into your heart. True repentance leads to faith in God and a clear forsaking of the sin you once loved.

Moses and the people knew that God was able to free them but surely they became increasingly impatient and did not understand why God was allowing Pharaoh to continue.

For this reason I have raised you up, that I may show my power in you and that my name may be declared in all the earth. (Exodus 9:16)

God remained patient and longsuffering throughout this time but we must realise that this is the reason God raised pharaoh in the first place: ‘that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’ As we read the in Exodus – pharaoh and his army drown in the red sea and this happened exactly when God had planned it.

So what we learn from this is: Not only was God glorified in His destruction of pharaoh but also in His patience towards pharaoh. God was as powerful in His patience with pharaoh as He was with the destruction of Pharaoh.

The longsuffering of God upon the apostle Paul

An unknown wrote:

God’s longsuffering towards them is very great and very remarkable; though they are under the marks of his displeasure, he has not stirred up his entire wrath, so as to cut them off from being a people; but has reserved them for future times and good things for them, and waits to be gracious to them

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptances, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. (1 Tim 1: 12-16)

The apostle Paul (previously named Saul), prior to his conversion was a feared man in the eyes of every Christian and this is why:

•             Paul hated Christ and His followers.

•             He physically abused God’s people. 

•             He studied under one of the top Jewish teachers, knew everything about the law and the prophets but out rightly rejected Christ.

•             He aided in Stephan’s death.

•             He took joy at be ridding Christians.

In verse 15: Saul referred to Himself as the chief of sinners; the most evil, the least deserved for forgiveness and the God hater. He was every part, or even worse than pharaoh and God had every right to pour out His wrath on Paul.

However God was still longsuffering, patient, and slow to anger with him, for these two reasons:

1) So that we may praise God for His amazing power in His longsuffering towards Paul.

Saul’s conversion would never have been so amazing unless God let him do what he was doing before.

For My name’s sake I will defer My anger, and for My praise I will restrain it from you, so that I do not cut you off. (Isaiah 48.9)

Understand this beloved: Saul was the most zealous, passionate hater of Christians and Christ Himself. To put in context he was as Hitler to the Jews. Yet God had a plan for Saul and saved him on the road to Damascus and he went on to become one of the greatest preacher ever to have lived and wrote most of the New Testament.

But know this: God was as great in His patience towards Saul as He was in the conversion of Saul, and equally powerful in both.

Importantly one would be mistaken to think their conversion was not as spectacular or fantastic as Paul’s.   We have such a weak, feeble, puny idea of ‘good’. The world’s idea of good is still absolutely wicked in the eyes of God. The bible says there is none good not one. Certainly we may have be good in comparison to others, however in God’s eyes we were as every bit sinful as Saul before Christ saved us. You hated God, you lied, cheated, blasphemed, you transgressed His law; you denied His Son and His glorious Gospel.

We were viciously against Him, albeit ignorantly. The bible makes it clear, we are either for Him or against and we were against Him. Beloved we have to realise that we were no saints before He saved us. To know that He counts lies equal to murder and sexual thoughts on par with adultery should have us crying out for mercy. If He were to mark our transgressions against Him before our conversion we would be every bit as wicked as Saul.

Realise, like the woman who came to wash Jesus’ feet with the expensive oil, you ought to love much because you have been forgiven much. I don’t know about you but that just makes me love Him more and thank Him for His amazing grace in saving me – and motivates me to become more like Him.

2) No one can say “I’m too wicked, God can’t save me.

God has a way of choosing the worst of the worst and changing them. He used the worst adversary of the gospel to become the greatest preacher of that same gospel that ever lived.

Someone wrote: The Holy Spirit arrested this violent hater of God’s people. God’s amazing grace beat him to the ground and then raised him up in the sure hope of the gospel.

The patience of God towards His people in the OT and now

God was and still is longsuffering towards his people, who he brought out of Egypt, fed even when they moaned, gave them meat, blessed them, and prospered them, despite them continually turning back to their own ways.

We see this all throughout the OT, God continues to be longsuffering towards Israel despite their constant rebellion.  No doubt, if it were us, we would have left them long ago and been satisfied with doing so but God is a covenant keeping God.  He will complete what He has set out to do.

We ask the question then, what then became of the sin of old?  God held back His anger from His people but where did He unleash it?

He bore with the sin and stored it up to be poured upon His Son.

Speaking about OT saints:

God waited till he should come and make his soul an offering for sin; and, upon his credit, bore with them, and bestowed the blessings of his grace on them: they were justified by him on the foundation of Christ’s righteousness to be wrought out; and their sins pardoned, through his atoning sacrifice to be offered up; they were saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, even as we are, and we as they; they were carried to heaven, and glorified, before the payment of their debts were made by their Surety, before satisfaction for their sins was given to justice, and before the actual redemption of them was obtained. All which, as it shows the trust and confidence God put in his Son, so his forbearance and longsuffering towards Old Testament saints; which also has appeared, and does appear.

God had so much faith and trust in His son to bare all His wrath, He assured OT saints of the coming salvation.

Patience is time

Patience involves time: how many of us have been through painful situations and want the pain to stop immediately?  We can take comfort knowing that God has done the time; He has paid the fine so you can be free.  Know today that you do not have to dwell in the past, there is no need to feel condemned, it is not of God (Romans 8:1 – John 3:17-18)

He has paid your price and erased your past; do not let it haunt you.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I am sure we all have our own stories of how God has been longsuffering and patient towards us.  Let us think about what He has bought us from. 

Personal Application

For the believer

Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city. (Proverbs 16:32)

Patience ought to be our virtue; it’s a fruit of the spirit. It is definitely something God desires for us to have.  How is your patience? Are you quick to anger? Do you do rash things in anger? I pray that through this study of God’s patience, you would learn patience from the prince of patience. Sit with Him, learn from Him, and wait on Him.

…now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus…(Romans 15.5)

We ought to be patient towards one another.  Before we lose it, the next time a brother wrongs us or we have to explain something to someone again, let us consider the way He has been extremely patient toward us.

For the non-believer

If you still have not accepted Him, don’t delay, He is waiting for you and longing that you do not perish but are saved by and for Him. One day His patience will run out and then it’ll be too late – today is the day of salvation.

Know that He loves you so much and has been longsuffering towards you and just as he forgave the thief on the cross, He can forgive and save you. Have you ever noticed how He keeps pulling you to come to places where you hear the gospel call but you still reject? Don’t reject Him tonight folks.

Dear brother and sister, if I may, can I ask why you are here tonight? Is it not because you know something is missing? Is it not because you know in your heart that there is more to life? Dare I go further and prompt you to answer this question: Why have you been delivered from an accident when others fell? Was it not so you are saved? Why have you recovered from that sickness? Is it not because you may come know God of healing? Why were you bought into contact with the person who bought you here? Was it not so that you would come here tonight and hear me pleading with you to come to Him?

The Bible says call on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. I hope with all my heart, you would do that even as you are reading this.

A call to compel others to come

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Let us go forth and be light bearers as Christ commissioned us to be. He wills that none perish, let us have that same burden and seek the lost and point them to the shepherd.

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