Impatience!

We probably all struggle with being impatient from time to time. We get impatient with each other or with having to wait for certain things to happen. However, do we ever get impatient with God?

As God set out to lead Israel from Egyptian slavery and on toward a glorious destination, He did not lead them by a direct route because He knew if the people faced war too quickly they would become discouraged and want to return. ( Exodus 13:17) Still, it did not take the Israelites long to begin complaining and wishing they were back in Egypt. (i.e. Exodus 14:12; 16:2-3; 17:3; etc.) This was in spite of the fact they recognized the plagues in Egypt to be a demonstration of God’s power, celebrated God’s glorious deliverance on dry land through the sea while He brought the waters back on the Egyptians, and wondered at the plentiful provision of water to drink where there was none plus the manna and quail to eat.

At a place where God provided water from a rock we read…
“And he [Moses] called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, ‘IS THE LORD AMONG US OR NOT?’” ( Exodus 17:7 ESV)

Besides being stiff-necked (i.e. Exodus 32:9) [stubborn and rebellious], the Israelites were also a very impatient people! Perhaps they wondered “IS THE LORD AMONG US?” because they were not getting what they “thought” they needed or wanted. Since provision was not made immediately they thought God was no longer in the picture. Have we ever struggled there? Because God’s hand is not seen or because some don’t get what they have prayed for, they begin to deny or question the existence of God.

For Israel, this was to be a time for learning to trust God. Do we recognize how impatience can actually be a sign of the lack of trust in either God’s power or His wisdom?

While Paul was in Athens, he declared to the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers…
“(26) And he [God] made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, (27) that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet HE IS ACTUALLY NOT FAR FROM EACH ONE OF US,” ( Acts 17:26-27 ESV)

Certainly there is much going on in this world that is contrary to the Will of God. Nonetheless, imagine how much worse it would be were God to not exist! Because we believe we pray and as we pray we must trust God to work things out in His time and in accordance with His wisdom. He is very much aware of our life situations. He is not absent from life. HE HAS NOT WITHDRAWN HIMSELF FROM US.

Through the psalmist we have God’s urging to…
“BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. I WILL be exalted among the nations, I WILL be exalted in the earth!” ( Psalm 46:10 ESV)

And Isaiah encouraged…
“but THEY WHO WAIT ON THE LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” ( Isaiah 40:31 ESV)

James also exhorted Christians going through extremely difficult times to…
“(7) BE PATIENT, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. SEE HOW THE FARMER WAITS for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. (8) YOU ALSO, BE PATIENT. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” ( James 5:7-8 ESV)

God has a timetable for bringing all His plans to fruition and those plans will not be thwarted by mankind. We don’t know when, but the Lord will come again ( Matthew 24:36) and His coming will be in accordance with God’s timing rather than our own desire. Therefore, let us continue to exercise the patience and trust to which we have been called. We may not always see the hand of God at work, but His work continues ( John 5:17) and we can believe that HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING!

Have a great day REVEALING HOW WORTHY GOD IS OF OUR TRUST!
Carl

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