Then the Lord passed by in front of (Moses) and proclaimed “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.” Exodus 34:6
During a recent Sunday School class on the gentle and lowly heart of Jesus, I was reminded of the Hebrew idiom for patience: long-nosed or long in nostril.
I had heard this expression years ago during a children’s story in church, where the teacher explained to the little ones that God had a lot of patience, a long nose.
Little Timmy blurted out “Elephants have really long noses!”
I can’t look at a picture of an elephant without of thinking of God, rolling with laughter over the image, and — more importantly — how I am constantly reminded of his infinite patience with me. Even longer than an elephant’s trunk.
Thank you to the Little Timmy’s out there who say things that remind us of how great, and wonderful, and loving is this God we serve.