Resignation, in the biblical context, refers to the acceptance of God's will and the submission to His divine plan, even in the face of personal loss, suffering, or uncertainty. This virtue is exemplified by several key figures in the Bible, who demonstrate unwavering faith and trust in God's sovereignty.

Job's Resignation

The account of Job is perhaps the most profound example of resignation in the face of immense suffering. Job, a man described as "blameless and upright" (Job 1:1), experiences the loss of his wealth, children, and health. Despite his profound grief and the urging of his wife to "curse God and die" (Job 2:9), Job remains steadfast in his faith. He responds with humility and acceptance, saying, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10). Job's resignation is further encapsulated in his declaration, "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21).

Abraham's Resignation

Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac is another powerful example of resignation. God tests Abraham's faith by commanding him to offer Isaac as a burnt offering (Genesis 22:2). Despite the emotional turmoil and the seeming contradiction to God's promise of descendants through Isaac, Abraham proceeds in obedience. His resignation to God's will is evident as he tells his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you" (Genesis 22:5). Abraham's faith and resignation are rewarded when God provides a ram as a substitute for Isaac (Genesis 22:13).

David's Resignation

King David exemplifies resignation during the illness and subsequent death of his child with Bathsheba. After the child falls ill, David pleads with God for the child's life, fasting and praying (2 Samuel 12:16). However, upon the child's death, David accepts the outcome, worships God, and resumes his life, saying, "Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me" (2 Samuel 12:23). David's response reflects a deep trust in God's judgment and a resignation to His will.

Jesus' Resignation

The ultimate example of resignation is found in Jesus Christ, particularly in the Garden of Gethsemane. Facing imminent crucifixion, Jesus prays fervently, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39). His submission to the Father's will, even unto death, is the epitome of resignation. Jesus' acceptance of God's plan for salvation through His sacrifice is a model for all believers in surrendering to God's purposes.

Paul's Resignation

The Apostle Paul also demonstrates resignation through his acceptance of suffering for the sake of the Gospel. Despite numerous hardships, including imprisonment, beatings, and shipwrecks, Paul remains committed to his mission. He writes, "I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances" (Philippians 4:11). Paul's resignation is rooted in his confidence that "all things work together for the good of those who love God" (Romans 8:28).

These biblical examples illustrate the virtue of resignation as a profound trust in God's wisdom and timing, encouraging believers to embrace His will with faith and humility.Leviticus 10:1-3
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
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Judges 10:15
And the children of Israel said to the LORD, We have sinned: do you to us whatever seems good to you; deliver us only, we pray you, this day.
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1 Samuel 3:18
And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seems him good.
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2 Samuel 12:23
But now he is dead, why should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
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2 Samuel 15:26
But if he thus say, I have no delight in you; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seems good to him.
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2 Samuel 16:10,11
And the king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Why have you done so?
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2 Samuel 24:14
And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
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2 Kings 4:26
Run now, I pray you, to meet her, and say to her, Is it well with you? is it well with your husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well:
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2 Kings 20:19
Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which you have spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
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Isaiah 39:8
Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which you have spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.
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Nehemiah 9:33
However, you are just in all that is brought on us; for you have done right, but we have done wickedly:
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Esther 4:16
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast you for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in to the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
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Job 1:13-22
And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house:
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Job 2:9,10
Then said his wife to him, Do you still retain your integrity? curse God, and die.
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Psalm 39:9
I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because you did it.
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Psalm 103:10
He has not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
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Psalm 119:75
I know, O LORD, that your judgments are right, and that you in faithfulness have afflicted me.
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Jeremiah 10:19
Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous; but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.
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Lamentations 1:18
The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
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Daniel 9:14
Therefore has the LORD watched on the evil, and brought it on us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he does: for we obeyed not his voice.
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Micah 7:9
I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
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Matthew 26:39
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.
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Mark 14:36
And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible to you; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what you will.
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Luke 22:42
Saying, Father, if you be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.
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Luke 23:40,41
But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do not you fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation?
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John 18:11
Then said Jesus to Peter, Put up your sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?
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Acts 7:59,60
And they stoned Stephen, calling on God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
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Acts 21:14
And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
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Romans 5:3-5
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience;
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2 Corinthians 6:3-11
Giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
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2 Corinthians 7:4
Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
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Philippians 1:20-24
According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
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2 Thessalonians 1:4
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure:
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2 Timothy 4:6
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
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James 5:11
Behold, we count them happy which endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
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From his Entrance on the Ministry in 1815, to his Commission to ...
... But I am thankful in hoping that I am come a little nearer to that state of resignation
which was so beautifully exemplified by our great Pattern of all good ...
/.../chapter ii from his entrance.htm

Our Attitude Toward his Sovereignty
... Here is resignation to the pleasure of a Sovereign God superlatively exemplified.
And He has left us an example that we should follow His steps. ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter ten our attitude toward.htm

Baxter
... He endured this unjust and cruel imprisonment with Christian patience and resignation,
which finds illustration in the hymn below ... He exemplified his own couplet ...
//christianbookshelf.org/nutter/hymn writers of the church/baxter 2.htm

All Internal Livers Obliged to Attend to God's Inspirations. ...
... Several such are exemplified. ... most efficaciously and purely when they are done with
the greatest stillness, calmness, clearness of mind and resignation. ...
/.../chapter v all internal livers.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1824 to the ...
... in the pulpit; and his popularity arose from an active zeal, exemplified in his ... an
unshaken confidence in his God, and expressed a calm resignation to his will ...
/.../chapter 8 from the close.htm

The General Conference of 1804, and of the Annual Conferences of ...
... his unabated charity, his ardent love to God and man, his patience and resignation
amid the unavoidable ills of life, that he always exemplified the tempers ...
/.../chapter 6 the general conference.htm

The Noble Results of this Species of Prayer
... Jesus Christ hath exemplified this in the Gospel: Martha did what was right; but ...
But to engage us farther in a boundless resignation, God assures us, by the ...
/.../guyon/a short and easy method of prayer/chapter xxi the noble results.htm

A Practical Discourse on Some Principles of Hymn-Singing
... taken widely, make a large and popular class, well exemplified by the ... and feeling,
as ABASEMENT, HUMILIATION, CONTRITION, REPENTANCE, RESIGNATION, SELF-DEVOTION ...
/.../a practical discourse on some.htm

On Religion; the Natural and Divine Life; and the Exemplification ...
... those in whom they reside; especially as they are perfectly exemplified in the ... towards
his heavenly Father, did express itself in an entire resignation to his ...
/.../scougal/the life of god in the soul of man/part i on religion the.htm

The First Delegated General Conference of 1812
... of episcopal prerogative " and also a disposition, frequently exemplified before,
to ... to remove any presiding elder, or by death, resignation or otherwise ...
/.../chapter 1 the first delegated.htm

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