Long of Nose

Patience has never come naturally to me. Whether it's with myself, my family, or even other drivers on the road, I often find it difficult to practice patience.

A few years ago, during a Bible study, I came across a passage that left a lasting impression on me. The author focused on Exodus 34:6, a moment when God is establishing His covenant with Israel. After Moses receives the commandments, he returns to find the people worshiping a golden calf. In his anger, he breaks the original tablets and later returns to Mount Sinai for a new set. During this encounter, Moses asks to see God’s glory, and God responds by passing before him and proclaiming:

“The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

What stood out most to me in that study was the discussion around the phrase “slow to anger.” It is sometimes translated as “longsuffering,” but the author pointed out that the literal Hebrew translation is “long of nose.” That phrase has stuck with me ever since. It paints a vivid picture: when we consider the stench of our sin, the idea is that God’s patience is so immense that it takes a long time for that stench to travel through His long nose for Him to smell our offense.

Even after the Israelites had turned away from Him (worshiping an idol, indulging in rebellion, and breaking their covenant) God still described Himself as compassionate, gracious, and slow to anger. That kind of patience humbles me. It reminds me that if God can respond with mercy after such betrayal, then surely, I can grow in patience too.