Slow God

Daily Scripture Threshing for Monday, March 6, 2023

Today’s Text: Nehemiah 9:13-23

Key Verse: Nehemiah 9:17 (ESV): “They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.”

Nehemiah—a Jewish leader who flourished in the mid-5th century BC when he supervised the rebuilding of Jerusalem after Artaxerxes I released him from captivity —rehearses the dealings of God with his people from Exodus through the wilderness. To him, whereas the people have been slow at heart and stiff-necked, God has been unimaginably slow in dealing with them according to their sins. Nehemiah recounted how, in the place of anger, God took patience to the extreme. He tells how God guided them through a long path to make sure they understood Him at their own pace. O how God showered care upon them while instructing them with life-giving laws, and sustained them on their journey to the Promised Land.

Sometimes, we are like those biblical Israel. We complain and nag that God is slow. But we fail to know that His patience is just for our good. Regardless of our constant rebellion, God does not stop loving us. He is forever gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. He is so slow because He is bearing our distrust, disorderliness, disbelief, and disobedience patiently because of His great compassion.

We surely have a lot to learn from our slow God. We must quit our rush-hour Christianity and trust God patiently. When we think He is too slow for us—yes, it is for us. I know we sometimes have situations that make us feel God is too slow; but the truth is; He is slow for our good. Only we don’t always see the other end of the line or desired immediate change in the situations.

Quote for the Day: “2 Peter 3:9 calls on Christians to a different understanding of slowness. A quick temper is a sign of a cold heart but the spirit of patience is a fruit of grace." (Simon Olatunji)

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you for Your patience with me. O please, let the words of the Psalm 130:5 be true of me. Teach me to wait for the LORD with my soul, and to hope in Your word. Help me to remain faithful in this place of waiting. Help me to serve you and live for you even in this crossroad of my life. Help me to wait as long as it takes — in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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[Daily Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide of The House of Prayer Evangel Church USA distributed for free use by individuals, small groups, families, and Christian churches]

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