December 27, 2022
The apostle Paul asks, “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
In light of the Lord’s patience with each of us, we are called to exercise patience with others. Our own slowness to receive the Lord’s lessons, sadly, gives the unbelieving world more “excuses” to reject Him. If I will allow God’s Spirit to develop in me the character trait of longsuffering, I will also be enabled to appreciate His patience with me more fully, increasing my love for Him. A deep love for Jesus—or lack of it—has a direct impact upon others, for good or for evil.
From beginning to end, the failings of men are pointed out in the word of God as a means of correction. The likelihood of helping others toward the kingdom of God is diminished if I, as a believer, disregard certain of His commandments or instructions. In reality, I am making a show of my lack of love and respect for Him.
The love and mercy of God are never ending. But He makes it clear that there is a limit to His tolerance of sin. He is deeply offended by sin yet exercises incredible patience—divine restraint—in order to lead the objects of His great love into harmony with His eternal principles. His word makes it clear that sin and those who cling to it will, in the end, be mercifully destroyed. Along with the original instigator of disobedience and disharmony himself, they shall be as though they had never been (Obadiah 16b).
There is a dangerous and false teaching that has gained prominence in recent decades which states that the last seven years of the 490 is somehow detached from the stated timeline and placed at an indefinite time in the future for the benefit of unrepentant Jews. It is based on the false notion that God failed to fulfill His promises to the nation of Israel, and that He “owes” them. The great deceiver consistently works to assassinate the beautiful character of our God.
The actual truth is that His people failed to appreciate His forbearance, despising the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering. Every promise of the Lord of glory is true. There is no precedent in Scripture for broken timelines. The book of Matthew in particular, written by a Jew for the Jews, repeatedly highlights fulfillments of prophecies and promises made by God.
God does not show partiality or favoritism (Acts 10:34, Galatians 2:6). If God were to show a special preference based on DNA, nationality, or even geographical boundaries, He would be contradicting His own character. God is never unfair. In fact, He is better than fair in every way!
Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And [the Jews] also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. Romans 11:22-23
For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:11