Consistent With God's Primary Attributes

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the notion of long-sufffering is expressed by two Hebrew words that literally mean "length of nostrils" and are rendered "slow to anger" in the New World Translation. Speaking of God's long-suffering, the prophet Nahum said: "Jehovah is slow to anger and great in power, and by no means will Jehovah hold back from punishing." (Nahum 1:3)

Hence, Jehovah's long-suffering is not a sign of weakness and is not without limits. The fact that the almighty God is at once slow to anger and great in power shows that his long-suffering is the result of purposeful restraint. He has the power to punish, but he deliberately refrains from immediately doing so in order to give the wrongdoer the opportunity to change. (Ezekiel 18:31, 32) Jehovah's long-suffering is, therefore, and expression of his love, and it demonstrates his wisdom in the use of his power.

Jehovah's long-suffering is also compatible with his justice and righteousness. He revealed himself to Moses as "a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger [long-suffering, King James Version] and abundant in loving-kindness and truth." (Exodus 34:6) Years later, Moses sang in praise of Jehovah: "All his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness, with whom there is no injustice;righteous and upright is he." (Deuteronomy 32:4) Yes, Jehovah's mercy, long-suffering, justice and uprightness all work together harmoniously.

Next time: Jehovah's Long-Suffering Before The Flood