Numbers 21:4-9

In contrast to God's longsuffering with them, God's own people (the children of Israel) are noticeably impatient with the very One who shows such longsuffering toward them. When they journeyed in the wilderness, after their deliverance by God's hand from Egypt, grumbling and impatience mark their character.

Here we see an example of the opposite of longsuffering: rather than thanking God for their food, their freedom, and His visible presence with them in the wilderness, they grumble because they are taking a long route—taking what they feel is forever—and here impatience is shown for what it is: selfish whining and demanding.

The Israelites placed "the self" above God's purposes and demands. They wanted their selfish desires to be met immediately rather than according to God's perfect plan. Impatience and intolerance are fruits of selfishness, whereas patience and longsuffering are fruits of self-sacrifice.

Numbers 21:1-9

Before I leave this, there is one other thing I wanted to mention about the serpent in the wilderness episode (that is Numbers 21:1-9). Of course, God told Moses to make this bronze serpent and if the people would look at it, then they would be healed from the bite of the serpents. And, of course, he would have to hold it up high for all of the people to see. Well, Jesus uses this imagery when He talks to Nicodemus there in John 3:14 about that He would have to be lifted up like that serpent in the wilderness.