Impatient
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Impatience is a state of restlessness and an inability to endure delay or opposition with calmness. In the Bible, impatience is often portrayed as a lack of trust in God's timing and sovereignty. It is a condition that can lead to rash decisions and actions that are contrary to God's will.

Biblical Examples of Impatience:

1. Abraham and Sarah: One of the most notable examples of impatience is found in the account of Abraham and Sarah. Despite God's promise to give them a son, Sarah grew impatient and urged Abraham to have a child with her maidservant, Hagar (Genesis 16:1-4). This decision led to familial strife and long-term consequences, illustrating the pitfalls of not waiting on God's timing.

2. Moses: In Numbers 20:10-12, Moses displayed impatience when he struck the rock twice to bring forth water for the Israelites, instead of speaking to it as God had commanded. This act of impatience and disobedience resulted in Moses being denied entry into the Promised Land.

3. Saul: King Saul's impatience is evident in 1 Samuel 13:8-14. When Samuel delayed in arriving to offer sacrifices, Saul took matters into his own hands and performed the sacrifices himself. This act of impatience cost Saul his kingdom, as God sought a man after His own heart to lead Israel.

Teachings on Patience:

The Bible frequently contrasts impatience with the virtue of patience, which is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Patience is commended as a characteristic of a mature believer who trusts in God's perfect timing and plan.

· James 5:7-8 : "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains. You too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near."

· Psalm 37:7 : "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes."

· Romans 12:12 : "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer."

Consequences of Impatience:

Impatience can lead to a range of negative outcomes, including strained relationships, missed blessings, and spiritual setbacks. It often reflects a lack of faith and can result in actions that are outside of God's will.

· Proverbs 14:29 : "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly."

· Ecclesiastes 7:9 : "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool."

Encouragement to Cultivate Patience:

Believers are encouraged to cultivate patience through prayer, reliance on the Holy Spirit, and meditation on God's Word. Patience is not merely passive waiting but an active trust in God's promises and His perfect timing.

· Colossians 3:12 : "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."

· Hebrews 10:36 : "You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."

In summary, impatience is a challenge that believers must confront with faith and reliance on God's wisdom and timing. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings that highlight the importance of patience as a reflection of trust in God's sovereign plan.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (a.) Not patient; not bearing with composure; intolerant; uneasy; fretful; restless, because of pain, delay, or opposition; eager for change, or for something expected; hasty; passionate; -- often followed by at, for, of, and under.

2. (a.) Not to be borne; unendurable.

3. (a.) Prompted by, or exhibiting, impatience; as, impatient speeches or replies.

4. (n.) One who is impatient.

Strong's Hebrew
3811. laah -- to be weary or impatient
... 3810, 3811. laah. 3812 . to be weary or impatient. Transliteration: laah Phonetic
Spelling: (law-aw') Short Definition: weary. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/3811.htm - 6k

7114a. qatsar -- to be short
... 7114, 7114a. qatsar. 7114b . to be short. Transliteration: qatsar Short
Definition: impatient. Word Origin a prim. root Definition ...
/hebrew/7114a.htm - 5k

Library

How the Impatient and the Patient are to be Admonished.
... How the impatient and the patient are to be admonished. (Admonition 10.)
Differently to be admonished are the impatient and the patient. ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter ix how the impatient.htm

Oh this Impatient Scholar! How Many Troubles do I Escape...
... [Way-2-3] Oh this impatient scholar! How many troubles do I escape?
Rusticus. Oh this impatient scholar! How many troubles ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-2-3 oh this impatient scholar.htm

Do You Need Patience?
... In our sinful lives we cultivate impatience by acting out our feelings of impatience.
The more we put our feelings into action, the more impatient we become. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk thirty-six do you need.htm

As God is the Author of Patience So the Devil is of Impatience.
... What that angel of perdition [9053] first was"malicious or impatient"I scorn to
inquire: since manifest it is that either impatience took its rise together ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/of patience/chapter v as god is the.htm

Impressive Phrases
... ardent, impatient, keen, and vehement. argue, discuss, dispute, and prove. ... hasty,
superficial, impatient, and desultory [desultory = disconnected: haphazard]. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section iv impressive phrases.htm

To Monna Agnese who was the Wife of Messer Orso Malavolti
... imperiously demand from God that He should give them consolations and tribulations
in their own way, and not in His; and so they become impatient, when they ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to monna agnese who was.htm

The Scriptures
... The earlier version of Ps.99:1, The Lord is King, be the people never so
impatient,' is remembered in the opening verse of a hymn". ...
/.../the hymns of methodism in their literary relations/chapter i the scriptures.htm

Further Reasons for Practising Patience. Its Connection with the ...
... And so to such, "consolation" and "laughter" are promised. "Blessed are the gentle:"
[9128] under this term, surely, the impatient cannot possibly be classed. ...
/.../tertullian/of patience/chapter xi further reasons for practising.htm

The Martyrdom of Stephen.
... ill success of the disputation to which they had challenged him; and that, with
the revenge natural to base and little minds, they were impatient to destroy by ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture ix the martyrdom of.htm

We Say Then that the Female Holds up with Two Strong Arms These ...
... Some impatient trader, some superficial missionary, walks across an island and sees
the squaw digging in the fields while the man is playing a flute; and ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 21 we say then.htm

Thesaurus
Impatient (7 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) Prompted by, or exhibiting, impatience; as, impatient speeches or replies.
4. (n.) One who is impatient. ...Impatient (7 Occurrences). ...
/i/impatient.htm - 8k

Impatience (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The quality of being impatient; want of endurance
of pain, suffering, opposition, or delay; eagerness for change, or for ...
/i/impatience.htm - 7k

Impatiently (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In an impatient manner. Multi-Version
Concordance Impatiently (2 Occurrences). Luke 20:20 So, after ...
/i/impatiently.htm - 7k

Saul (371 Occurrences)
... Saul now tarried for seven days in Gilgal before making any movement, as Samuel
had appointed (10:8); but becoming impatient on the seventh day, as it was ...
/s/saul.htm - 76k

Quick (49 Occurrences)
... 3. (superl.) Speedy; hasty; swift; not slow; as, be quick. 4. (superl.) Impatient;
passionate; hasty; eager; eager; sharp; unceremonious; as, a quick temper. ...
/q/quick.htm - 24k

Jonah (30 Occurrences)
... them (ch. 3); (4) Jonah's displeasure at God's merciful decision, and the
rebuke tendered to the impatient prophet (ch. 4). Nineveh ...
/j/jonah.htm - 35k

Weary (77 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To harass by anything irksome. 7. (vi) To grow tired; to become exhausted
or impatient; as, to weary of an undertaking. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/w/weary.htm - 29k

Irritable (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) ill-tempered; impatient; easily inflamed
or exasperated; as, an irritable temper. 2. (a.) Very ...
/i/irritable.htm - 7k

Folly (68 Occurrences)
... (2) 'ewil, one of the commonest, the idea conveyed by which is that of one who is
hasty, impatient, self-sufficient (Proverbs 12:15; Proverbs 15:5; Proverbs 16 ...
/f/folly.htm - 39k

Restive (1 Occurrence)
... drawing back. 2. (a.) Inactive; sluggish. 3. (a.) Impatient under coercion,
chastisement, or opposition; refractory. 4. (a.) Uneasy ...
/r/restive.htm - 7k

Resources
What does it mean to wait on the Lord? | GotQuestions.org

How can I overcome having a critical spirit? | GotQuestions.org

Why was it wrong for Saul to offer a sacrifice? | GotQuestions.org

Impatient: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Impatient (7 Occurrences)

Numbers 21:4
And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to go round the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became impatient on the way;
(DBY JPS NAS RSV NIV)

Job 4:2
"If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
(See NAS NIV)

Job 4:5
But now it is come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.
(See NAS RSV)

Job 21:4
As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn't I be impatient?
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Micah 2:7
O thou that art named the house of Jacob, Is Jehovah impatient? are these his doings? Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?
(DBY NAS RSV)

Zechariah 6:7
The strong went out, and sought to go that they might walk back and forth through the earth: and he said, "Go around and through the earth!" So they walked back and forth through the earth.
(See RSV)

Zechariah 11:8
And I cut off the three shepherds in one month; for my soul was weary of them, and their soul also loathed me.
(See JPS NAS RSV)

Subtopics

Impatient

Related Terms

Impatient (7 Occurrences)

Opportunity (35 Occurrences)

Governor's (6 Occurrences)

Waited (72 Occurrences)

Impeach (3 Occurrences)

Fasten (28 Occurrences)

Ruling (123 Occurrences)

Expression (17 Occurrences)

Possibly (13 Occurrences)

Act (204 Occurrences)

Absalom (93 Occurrences)

Honest (34 Occurrences)

Running (135 Occurrences)

Threw (133 Occurrences)

Hastily (30 Occurrences)

Impatience Leads to Idolatry
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