“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
While this passage is notable for the controversy it stirs with regard to the relationship between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, there is another aspect of this verse that may go virtually unnoticed from a 21st century perspective.
Among the heretical teachers of the first century, there were undoubtedly some who viewed the acquisition of “secret knowledge” as the key to spiritual enlightenment. However, 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God does not hide His plan of salvation from a larger audience in favor of a select few. Instead, God’s call to salvation through Christ is open to all who will accept it.
Thankfully, God is patient with the members of the human family and not willing that any should perish, as we are told in the passage quoted above. For instance, we can illustrate the depth of God’s patience with a look at His attitude toward the people of Old Testament Israel. Consider the following lament as expressed through the pen of the Biblical prophet Isaiah: “But concerning Israel he says, ‘All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people'” (Isaiah 65:2 NIV).
With unparalleled patience, God continues to extend His hands to us through Christ. But let’s approach this gracious gesture from a human point of view and reflect upon our own relationships with others. If one person extends his or her hand to another in a gesture of friendship, it would be highly offensive to ignore or reject it. If such is the case among human beings in their relationships with one another, how much more insulting is it for the Creator of humanity to be rejected in a similar manner?
Furthermore, we should note that God stretches forth His hands in an offer of friendship even to those who are obstinate and disobedient. One pastoral commentator adds the following insight…
“We understand that God is not willing that any should perish not in the sense of a divine decree, as if God has declared that no sinners will perish. Rather, Peter’s statement reflects God’s heart of love for the world (John 3:16), and His compassionate sorrow even in the righteous judgment of the wicked. It is the same thought as expressed in Ezekiel 33:11: As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” (1)
(1) Enduring Word. (2022, July 13). Enduring Word Bible Commentary 2 Peter Chapter 3. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/2-peter-3/