Scripture speaks often about the importance and wisdom of being patient. (Consider Prov. 14:29; 15:18; 16:32; 19:11; 20:22; Col. 3:12; Js. 5:10; 1 Pt. 2:20ff as just a few examples).
Scripture also speaks of the patience of God. God waits. One of the common New Testament words for patience is to be long-suffering (see Rom. 9:22; 1 Tim. 1:16; 1 Pt. 3:20; 2 Pt. 3:15); so when used of God it means that He willingly endures the injurious and malicious actions of ungodly men against Him for a long period of time; He withholds the justice which He would be right to pour out against them. Thinking about this theme, John Frame has said:
So God is a God who waits. He can accomplish his will instantly. He can bring final judgment on the wicked immediately. But he chooses not to do so. He has chosen to write a drama and spread it out in temporal sequence.…So he tolerates evil for a time…waiting until later to judge it fully.
Now the question is, why? Why is God patient? Many presume by their actions that the patience of God is required — He is patient because there is nothing we have done that requires His justice. He must be patient with us, many conjecture, because we have done nothing offensive. Is that right?
Notice what Paul says in Romans 2:4 — “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” God is not patient with us because we have not done something wrong (in fact, if we’ve done nothing wrong, then patience would not be required by Him). No, God is patient despite of the fact that we have repeatedly sinned and offended His name. And He is patient because He is waiting for us to come to repentance.
We must not be deluded. When God we sin and no significant consequence befalls us, it is not because God is justifying and approving our actions. To the contrary, He is in fact waiting for us to come to our senses and repent of those sins. Silence from God after sin is a remarkable demonstration of just how long He is willing to endure our offenses and sins. When we hear nothing following sin, we must not whisper a sigh of relief and go on our way unchanged; rather, we must recognize the patience of God in the silence and be driven to our knees in repentance to God and gratitude for the provision of Christ whereby we can be forgiven and cleansed.
John Frame concluded his earlier statement by noting this:
Now we learn that God’s decision to wait is not arbitrary, nor is it mainly in the interest of creating a more interesting story. Rather, it is a function of his love and grace. So he gives people time for repentance.
Because God is lovingly patient and willing to endure our sins, let us therefore be quick to confess those sin and enjoy the delights of His fellowship.
Words of Grace 