Key #4: Patience

Happy Mother’s Day

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Can we start by giving a round of applause for all the moms in house and online. There is a reason that Mother’s Day is a big deal. It is no easy thing that you moms do day in and day out, regardless of how old your kids may be.

As a token on our appreciation for you moms, there is a little gift for each of you this morning. It is a $5 voucher to the greenhouse in town. So go over sometime before they close and you will get $5 off your purchase. Say thank you to them for being willing to work with us on this.

Moms exemplify patience

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it is no coincidence that Mother’s Day falls on the Sunday we are talking about patience because you moms have a God given gift of patience. Before you laugh about this, I want you to notice that none of the men in the crowd are disagreeing with me. When it comes to your kids, moms have a patience that is unmatched. Even if you lost it on your kids this morning, it doesn’t take away from that truth.

The biggest evidence I have for this is homeschooling. I don’t know a single dad who is the primary educator in homeschool families. That is all done by the moms because they have the patience to work with your kids through their studies and what them grow.

At our house, if I have to fill in for the main homeroom teach, my girls only know one thing by the time I am done: they can’t wait for mom to come back. Seriously! I love to teach, but for some reason that gifting seems to be missing when it comes to teaching my own kids. Michelle is awesome, and my kids are growing because of it.

Moms are amazingly patient. It is part of the image of God implanted on you because when it comes to patience, God is amazingly patient with each of us.

This story we are going to dive into an Old Testament story that is going to show what patience doesn’t look like, and if you are honest, you will be able to relate to everyone in the story. We are in Numbers 20 if you have your bible. For those who are turning there, I will give you some context. The people of Israel have been wondering around the desert for some time. Israel was at the promised land, they sent in spies to check it. 10 of them came back with a bad report, and the people refused to go in. As a result, God told them to wander the desert for 40 years, until that generation had passed away so that the next generation could be the ones to go in.

Numbers 20 is nearing the end of the wandering, and this is what we read:

Numbers 20:1–5 NLT

In the first month of the year, the whole community of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh. While they were there, Miriam died and was buried. There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron. The people blamed Moses and said, “If only we had died in the Lord’s presence with our brothers! Why have you brought the congregation of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock? Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!”

The people are impatient with God

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This is the story of Israel since the Exodus. As soon as something isn’t going their way, they instantly start complaining and want to go back. The way the story presents itself is that the people are unhappy with Moses and Aaron. But Moses and Aaron are just following the LORD and His plan. The people are really being impatient with God. They aren’t happy with the way the plan is unfolding, and so they want to go back or wish they were dead.

Have you ever been impatient with God’s plan? Let me ask this a different way. Have you ever thought, said, or prayed that Jesus would come back soon? Think about it. Most of you know that Jesus is coming back, and most of you know that God’s timing is always perfect. You also know, from 2 Peter, that there are things you can do to speed Jesus’ return. But everytime you say, “I want Jesus to come back soon,” if it is really a voicing of impatience with God’s plan. It is why Peter wrote this is 2 Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:9 NLT

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

I want Jesus to come back now is really saying that God is moving too slowly, and like the Israelites in our story, you are being impatient wth God. Just to be sure everyone is on the same page, being impatient with God is not always the best policy.

continuing in our story

Numbers 20:6–8 NLT

Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord said to Moses, “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.”

God remains patient

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despite their complaining and impatience, God remains patient with the people. He overlooks their attitudes, He overlooks everything that is wrong with this situation, and He sees what is really going on. They are thirsty, and they need water for their livestock and themselves. The need is not invalid. The problem is very real, and God can see the problem for what it is, despite the way the people wrapped it so poorly.

This can difficult. There are times when you have confrontation with someone, and in the moment the attitude or confrontation clouds the fact that there is a real problem that needs to be addresses. Often, there are things surrounding the circumstance that cloud what is really going on. God is not distracted by the circumstance; He sees the need for what it is and has a plan to meet the need.

Before we move on, I want to note something. Moses is supposed to gather the people, and then do what to the rock? Speak to it

Numbers 20:9–13 NLT

So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the Lord. Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” This place was known as the waters of Meribah (which means “arguing”) because there the people of Israel argued with the Lord, and there he demonstrated his holiness among them.

Moses is impatient with the people

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Moses does exactly what God tells him to do in that he gathers the people, but his impatience with the people boils over. He calls them a bunch of rebels and what does he do to the rock? He hits it. Twice I may add, because he wasn’t supposed to hit it in the first place.

The good news is that despite his misstep, God still provides water for the people and livestock. This is good news, that God’s plan still happens at times despite us.

But Moses has acted improperly. In his rashness, he has acted irreverently before God, and as a result, he is going to miss out on the promised land.

Now I know that no one here can relate to this part of the story. No one here or online has ever acted rashly or hastely and done something, only to regret it later, right?

Unfortunately, I think everyone can relate to Moses. In a moment of raw emotion, you can react improperly, and the result is some times something you can’t take back. Something is said that you instantly regret, or something is done that will take years to recover from. Impatience can have devastating consequences. For Moses, he missed out on the promised land. For you, it could be a broken relationship, a loss of trust, or any number of things.

Patience connected to development

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Patience is connected to development. Think about it this way. What was the last thing you become impatient about? Maybe it was this morning as your spouse was getting ready for church and they were taking longer then they should. Maybe it was with your kids and school work, which is one I struggle with.

Every one of those things has one thing in common. Things are not where you think they should be. Your spouse isn’t ready. The kids aren’t getting along. Your marriage isn’t what you envisioned it would be. You had an idea of where things would be and they aren’t there. Things are not developing as you think they should, and so you are becoming impatient. That impatience can often take the form of anger or frustration.

This applies to church. When someone has been going to church for a while, you begin to assume they are growing at a certain rate and they are going to act a certain way. When they don’t, you can become impatient because they are not growing as you think they should be.

This is often why people give up on God. Instead of trusting in that God’s timing and plan are perfect and good, you have an idea of when or how God’s plan should play out, and when it doesn’t it is is God’s fault. Patience is connected to development, no matter what form development takes.

Yet, as you may become impatient with God or his people, you also take for granted that God will be patient with you as you develop and have setbacks. Like God’s love, you bank on God’s patience daily. Paul says this in Romans 2:4

Romans 2:4 NLT

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

Notice that patience and kindness go hand in hand. This came up in the key of love, that love is patient and kind. They go hand in hand. Solomon says this in Prov 19:11

Proverbs 19:11 NLT

Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.

a patient person overlooks the wrongs of others. Paul explains the patience within the church like this in Eph 4:2

Ephesians 4:2 NLT

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Patience makes allowance for people’s faults and shortcomings. Patience understands that just as you may not be growing and developing like you should, neither is anyone else, yet God remains patient with everyone.

so how do you practice this divine level patience in your life?

James 1:19 (NLT)

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

this is one of the verses I come back to often. I acknowledge that I can have a bit of a temper, that impatience is a strong trait in my life. This verse is a reminder that I am called to something more.

James says understand this. Even if you are not a memorizer of scripture by trait, this is a good one. James is encouraging the reader to really put this into practice.

Be Quick to Listen

not just hear the words that are coming out of the person’s mouth, but actually listen. This is one of the greatest needs in our society because most people feel like they are not being heard. The average conversation is interupted every 8 seconds. That means as a society, people are not listening, they are just thinking about what they are going to say next.

Really listen to what is being said. Listen beyond the words to the emotion, the feeling. What is really going on? This requires patience, but if you can learn to really listen to people, you will overcome a lot of tension.

Be slow to speak

make sure the other person is done talking before you begin. Part of really listening is asking questions in order to understand. Being slow to speak isn’t just waiting your turn, but waiting to make your point until you fully understand what the other person is saying.

Be slow to anger

it is interesting in Numbers 14, Moses uses these same words to describe God. He says God is faithful in love and slow to anger.

above all, keep your emotions in check. Often in our society the reverse order is practiced. If someone hears something they don’t agree with, they allow their emotions to take control, and then they speak, and usually what comes is not helpful. In a confrontation of react and speak, there is very little listening going on.

it may require a deep breath, but as believers, you are called to listen first. Listen well. Then speak. By this time, you probably won’t even get angry. Which is a good thing, because according to James 1:20

James 1:20 NLT

Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.

Be Patient

Be patient with God, with each other, and with yourself. God is endlessly patient with you, no matter how many times you stumble. Let that same patience flow from you, and become a lifestyle.

Let’s pray

Discussion Questions:

1. What stood out from the message?

There are three different people we need to be patient with. Discuss each group and how you can be more patient with each.

A. We need to be patient with God and His plan

B. We need to be patient people and their development

C. We need to be patient with ourselves and our own development