The Bible is filled with stories of individuals who have gone through a range of experiences, including moments of joy, sorrow, and patience. However, the Bible also contains stories about those who were not so patient.
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In this article, we will explore some of the bible characters who were notably impatient and how their impatience affected them. We will examine how their lack of patience influenced their decisions in both good and bad ways.
Abraham
Abraham is one of the most prominent figures in the Bible and is considered the father of many nations. He is also known for his faith, courage, and patience. But there is one instance when he was not so patient.
In Genesis 16, Abraham and his wife Sarah were having trouble conceiving a child. In desperation, Abraham decides to take matters into his own hands and have a child with his wife’s servant, Hagar. This decision caused a great deal of tension between Abraham and Sarah.
Abraham’s impatience to have a child led to the birth of Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar. Although Ishmael was not the son of promise, God still had a plan for him.
Jonah
Jonah is another biblical character known for his lack of patience. When God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh, an evil city full of wicked people, Jonah ran away in the opposite direction.
Jonah was so impatient that he hopped on a boat to try and escape God’s plan for him. Unfortunately, the boat was soon engulfed by a great storm, and it was only after Jonah repented and asked for God’s forgiveness that the storm finally ceased.
Moses
Moses is known for his patience and faith in God. But, like all of us, he had his moments of impatience. One such instance occurred when Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt.
When the Israelites were thirsty, they complained to Moses and wanted him to provide them with water. Moses, feeling overwhelmed and impatient with the people, angrily struck the rock and caused water to come out of it. This was displeasing to God and was the reason Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land.
Jacob
Jacob is another biblical character who was known for his impatience. In Genesis 27, Jacob tricks his father, Isaac, into giving him the blessing meant for his older brother, Esau. Jacob was so eager to receive the blessing that he was willing to deceive and manipulate his own father.
Jacob’s impatience resulted in him receiving the blessing instead of Esau. This event caused a great rift between the brothers and Jacob was later forced to flee from his home.
The Disciples
The disciples of Jesus were also known for their impatience. In Mark 9, the disciples were trying to cast out a demon from a boy, but were unable to do so. Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith and urged them to have patience.
In the Bible, Jesus’ disciples are often portrayed as impatient, pressing Him to hurry and fulfill His mission. While on earth, Jesus was constantly challenged by his disciples, who wanted Him to act quickly in order to make an impact. Despite their impatience, it is clear that Jesus remained focused on fulfilling His mission in a timely manner—and this can be seen as a lesson for us today.
The Bible tells us that patience is a virtue and we should strive to live this out in our daily lives. We need to keep our minds set on the ultimate goal of life: eternal salvation with God. Instead of being impatient with ourselves or those around us when things don’t happen right away, we must focus on faith and perseverance in order to reach our individual goals.
The disciples were so impatient that they forgot the power of God and tried to do things their own way. Jesus reminded them that faith and patience are the keys to seeing miracles happen.
Conclusion
Patience is a virtue, and the Bible characters above are a great example of how impatience can have negative consequences. Although these characters were often impatient, God still had a plan for them, and they were ultimately able to fulfill their purpose.
We can learn from these characters and make sure to trust in God’s plan and have patience in all things. Patience is key to seeing God’s will be done in our lives.
All articles have been written or reviewed by Pastor Duke Taber. Pastor Duke Taber is an alumnus of Life Pacific University and Multnomah Biblical Seminary. He has been in pastoral ministry since 1988. Today he is the owner and managing editor of 3 successful Christian websites that support missionaries around the world. He is currently starting a brand new church in Mesquite NV called Mesquite Worship Center, a Non-Denominational Spirit Filled Christian church in Mesquite Nevada.
