God's forbearance is a profound aspect of His character, reflecting His patience and mercy toward humanity despite their repeated disobedience. He refrained from immediate punishment of Israel for their constant breaking of the covenant over seven hundred years, from the Exodus around 1440 B.C. until their removal from the land in 720 B.C., demonstrating His longsuffering through cycles of sin, punishment, and opportunities for repentance. His mercy often delayed deserved consequences, giving the Israelites time and space to turn back to Him, though eventually, He had to enact judgment when repentance did not occur. This forbearance is evident in His dealings with individuals as well. With Abraham, God endured a period of deceit regarding Sarah, not striking him down for his half-truths to Abimelech and Pharaoh over fifteen to twenty years, allowing time for repentance and protecting both Abraham and Sarah from harm. Similarly, with Samson, God bore with his chronic womanizing and involvement with foreign women for twenty years, working out a purpose in him and giving space for character growth, though the penalties of his actions were not withheld in the end. In David's case, God delayed judgment for nine months after his sins of adultery and conspiracy to murder Uriah, waiting through Bathsheba's pregnancy before sending Nathan to confront him, which led to deep repentance and significant character development as seen in Psalm 51. God's forbearance extends beyond immediate obedience, focusing on the eternal goal of building godly character and granting eternal life. He puts up with disobedience for a time, not to overlook it, but to provide a period of grace for repentance, knowing that every work will be brought into judgment. His patience is designed to lead to repentance, ensuring that justice is served either through the covering of sins by Jesus Christ's blood upon repentance or through personal penalty if repentance does not occur. This legal basis allows Him to be merciful and lenient, giving room for growth. Even in trials involving others, God's forbearance operates on both the just and unjust, delaying responses to the cries of His elect as He works in the lives of their enemies, potentially preparing them for a future calling. His timing, though seeming slow to us, reflects His character of patience and love, aiming for the salvation of all. Without His longsuffering, there would be no opportunity for salvation, as immediate punishment would leave no space for repentance or character development. Thus, God's forbearance is a vital tool in fashioning sons and daughters for His family, a trait He desires us to emulate in our interactions with one another.