I don’t want to experience when God’s patience runs out. Over and over in the Bible, Scripture talks about the Lord’s patience and long-suffering. Psalm 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry, and filled with unfailing love. [1]
As you meditate on this verse, you see the words “slow to get angry,” which means the Lord has limits. My earthly father was always very patient, but I remember once when he called me to talk with me. He was a patient man, but his patience had run out with my bad behavior.
God’s Patience with the Israelites Ended
The Israelites had seen the Lord do one miracle after He freed them from slavery in Egypt. The purpose of the Lord’s miracles was to free them from slavery and show His power. The Lord was trying to teach them that He was trustworthy. They needed to trust Him to follow Him as a nation.
The people believed the negative message of ten of the spies instead of the faith-filled message of Caleb and Joshua. This act of unbelief by the people of Israel, who saw all of the Lord’s miracles, ended the Lord’s patience with them.
Numbers 14:29 You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die. 30 You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb, son of Jephunneh, and Joshua, son of Nun. [2]
Will God’s Patience With Me Run Out?
God is patient and long-suffering, but that will run out if we continually disobey the Lord. We don’t like to think there are consequences for our actions, but there are. The last thing the Lord wants for any of us is for His patience to run out. This is why the fear of the Lord is so important.
To learn about when God’s patience runs out, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/journey-wandering
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ps 103:8). Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Nu 14:29–30). Tyndale House Publishers.