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"Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. Acts 13:18 NKJV
The “he” in today’s scripture is God. “their” refers to the ancient Israelites who had just escaped slavery in Egypt. “ways” includes whining, complaining, and outright rebellion. God “put up” these provocations “about forty years” because He had committed Himself to these people.
God is remarkably patient. He delays judgment on the earth, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). When we join His family by faith, He “does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10). In this age of grace, He views His children through the perfecting lens of Jesus, “who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Galatians 1:4).
The faults and failures that characterize our lives, though troublesome to us, are no surprise to God. In His great patience, He is always ready to forgive and forget our sins, so always run to rather than from Him. The scriptures tell us, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
If you are in Christ, God is fully, patiently committed to you…forever.
Prayer: Father in heaven, I praise You for Your patient love. May it spur me to an ever-greater commitment to You.
The “he” in today’s scripture is God. “their” refers to the ancient Israelites who had just escaped slavery in Egypt. “ways” includes whining, complaining, and outright rebellion. God “put up” these provocations “about forty years” because He had committed Himself to these people.
God is remarkably patient. He delays judgment on the earth, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). When we join His family by faith, He “does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10). In this age of grace, He views His children through the perfecting lens of Jesus, “who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Galatians 1:4).
The faults and failures that characterize our lives, though troublesome to us, are no surprise to God. In His great patience, He is always ready to forgive and forget our sins, so always run to rather than from Him. The scriptures tell us, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
If you are in Christ, God is fully, patiently committed to you…forever.
Prayer: Father in heaven, I praise You for Your patient love. May it spur me to an ever-greater commitment to You.
