This is what he said of himself, that he was a God of tenderness and compassion, a God with the heart of a loving Father, nay of a mother, that he was slow to anger, that is, extremely with man's weaknesses.
That he was rich in and faithfulness, generous in the extreme, and always faithful in fulfilling his every promise.
The people of Israel gave Yahweh ample opportunity to exercise his mercy when time, and again they abandoned him to go after .
At his coming, Christ would clearly show that God's mercy extended, not to a single people, but to as well.
When have you abandoned God to pursue other 'idols' (priorities, distractions, or false securities)? How did God respond to you?
How does knowing God's patience and faithfulness change the way you view your own failures and weaknesses?