THE PATIENCE TEST

PATIENCE = the ability to continue doing something for a long time without losing interest, especially something difficult. Tolerant and even-tempered perseverance. The capacity for calmly enduring pain, and trying situations. To suffer without complaining or becoming annoyed.

This blog is a continuation from my previous blog, “The Word Test.” In that blog, I spoke about Abram and Sarai and how Abram received a word from God, and he had to wait twenty-five years before it came to fruition.  Though the scripture said this about Abram, “He believed and it was counted unto him as righteous,” the scripture also revealed after ten years of waiting without consulting God he followed the suggestion of his wife which has caused complications for his descendants even to this day.

Bible history does not reveal why God chose Abram to be the father of the Jewish nation. From what I have read, Abram prior to Genesis 12 worshipped other gods. However, his encounter with the true God was impactful, and he relinquished his old religious practices to follow God.

God’s initial conversation with Abram took place in the land of Haran. God gave him directions with a conditional promise which Abram follows, and then God makes a covenant promise which entails land, Abram’s descendants, and blessings. Over the next twenty-five years, God periodically rehearses this covenant with Abram until Abram, whose name was changed to Abraham has a son with his wife Sarah whose name was changed from Sarai.

During those twenty-five years Abraham became impatient. He wanted a child badly, but his wife was infertile. When she suggested, they have a child using her maid Hagar (which was the custom for childless couples) Abraham agreed. According to the scripture, Ishmael was born from this union, and he was considered a child born of the flesh. From the time of Ishmael’s conception, Sarah realizes she had made a grave mistake and Ishmael and Hagar become a thorn in her flesh; however, Abraham loved Ishmael and had feelings for Hagar.

Unfortunately, these words spoken to Hagar by an angel before the birth of Ishmael remain prevalent, “Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren” (Genesis 16:11-12). History reveals Ishmael lived in the wilderness region of Hejaz (the Arabian Peninsula) and most of his descendants founded the Arab nations. Today, it is these Arab nations that are continually warring with Israel over their land. Thus, from the life of Abraham, we learn impatience can cause long-lasting, generational problems.

After receiving a word, it is necessary to wait patiently for it to come to pass. This has proven to be difficult for those whose waiting time has been long. Impatience has caused many to take matters in their own hands resulting in mistakes and errors that cannot be reversed. This is what we saw in the life of Abraham and Sarah.

Unlike Abraham, who did not have a bible, when we become discouraged and anxious, we have the word of God that we can read and from which we are able to gather encouragement. So, I close with these scripture of encouragement for you to rehearse and on which to meditate.

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

James 1:3 – 4 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Hebrews 10: 35 – 36 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Hebrews 6: 10 -15 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.  And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.