The common lexicon is abundant with lofty platitudes. The tips of our tongues shower all who are willing to listen to such banalities as honesty being a lonely word and patience a virtue. It is true that Chaucer is most probably the promulgator of the latter which lends certain authenticity to the proverb. But the query places itself like an elephant in the room of our brains. Why is patience such a valuable trait?
Of course to answer this question more contexts are required. In our terse perusal of the issue we shall focus only from the perspective of God. Perhaps, as a tertiary benefit any leader will be able to glean from the ensuing insight kernels of wisdom that they can employ to be more effective in their leadership.
Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Path of the Just, chapter 4) asks. The Jewish conception of God necessitates the perspective that He is perfect. Therefore, his perfection does not allow Him to overlook infraction as the Talmud (Bava Kama 50) states, ‘Whoever, says that God overlooks, his live will be overlooked.” That being the case, just as it was in the olden days with human monarchs, any sin against God’s will should be met with immediate strict justice in the form of a well aimed lighting bolt that strikes the perpetration in his tracks. Why then does that not happen? Furthermore, the conception of teshuva should be an anathema? If one engages in licentious acts or kills someone how can they take it back? To employ the cliché, what’s done is done.
The answer that Rabbi Luzzatto offers to this question unveils a diamond-esk idea. In such circumstances God exercises patience to give the sinner time to ponder his ways. When the would-be Baal Teshuva considers the ramifications of his actions and the personality that he has become as a result, a stupendous transformation occurs. Deep regret sets in the psyche which yields a true desire to be someone else; someone more refined and better. That desire effects change in the personality contriving a committed servant of God.
God’s patience is a virtue. For instead of extirpating a person it allows a formation of resplendent servitude.
With this insight the Mishnah in the Ethics of Our Fathers (5:2) is clear. Ten generations separate between Adam and Noach and ten generations between Noach and Avaraham showing God’s patience that yield the righteous pillars of all mankind.
