Many today misunderstand the character of God when reading the Old Testament. They see only the judgment, destruction, and discipline of those who disobeyed Him and quickly label Him as harsh or cruel. But such a conclusion misses the overwhelming testimony of Scripture: God is patient, longsuffering, merciful, and full of love. The truth is, His justice is always preceded by pleas for repentance, mercy extended, and grace offered—again and again.
God's Patience in the Old Testament
From the beginning, we see a God who is patient with sinful humanity. Even after Adam and Eve sinned, God did not immediately destroy them. Instead, He clothed them, promised a Redeemer (Genesis 3:15), and allowed life to continue.
Before the flood, as the world grew increasingly wicked, God waited:
“And the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever...’”
— Genesis 6:3 (NKJV)
And yet, He gave mankind 120 years while Noah preached righteousness (2 Peter 2:5), a chance for repentance.
To Israel, even in their rebellion and idolatry, God continually sent prophets, gave warnings, and called for repentance:
“Yet for many years You had patience with them,
And testified against them by Your Spirit in Your prophets.
Yet they would not listen;
Therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.”
— Nehemiah 9:30 (NKJV)
God's discipline was not impulsive. It came after long-suffering patience, after years of pleading and repeated opportunities to return to Him.
God’s Longsuffering Is an Expression of His Love
It’s important to understand that God’s longsuffering is not weakness or delay—it is His love giving space for repentance.
“The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.”
— Psalm 103:8 (NKJV)
He is slow to anger—not devoid of anger—but His righteous judgment is always restrained by His great mercy. That is love.
God’s Patience Continues Today
Just as in the past, God still waits patiently for people to come to Him. In fact, the delay in Christ’s return is not slackness, but mercy:
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
— 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)
We live in the time of God's patience. The fact that we wake up each morning, able to repent, believe, and walk with Him, is a demonstration of His enduring grace.
God’s Patience Has a Limit
Though God is patient, His patience does not mean He will never judge. Eventually, if repentance is refused, His justice must be fulfilled. But even in judgment, He remains just and good.
“Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”
— Romans 2:4 (NKJV)
We should never take His patience for granted. Instead, we should allow His longsuffering to melt our hearts in humility and lead us to obedience.
A God Who Waits in Love
When we read the Bible carefully, we don’t see a cruel God—we see a faithful Father, deeply hurt by sin, yet always extending grace. His judgments are never without cause, never without warning, and never without opportunity for mercy.
Whether Old Testament or New, God's heart remains the same:
“Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you.”
— Zechariah 1:3 (NKJV)
Let us be grateful for God’s patience. Let it drive us to repentance, to faithfulness, and to deep reverence for the One who waits for us with open arms.