So how does omnipotent and benevolent God react to opposition if and when it occurs? There are, in my understanding, only two broad alternatives: either continue being benevolent or quit. There is no way to rule out the possibility that God just gets tired of the whole mess and withdraws benevolence. This is in fact what certain Hebrew traditions claim did happen in some instances, most notably the composite flood account in Genesis. But here omnipotence again plays a key role.
Our proposed omnipotent being, God, would have known of the possibility of opposition before creation. While it is possible for such a being to a bring forth distinct creation and only sustain as long as it is not too ‘frustrating,’ it is also possible that to choose to take the good with the bad and endure the potentially ‘frustrating’ consequences of such creation.
We can define this endurance of frustration with the term ‘long-suffering’ or ‘forbearance.’ This endurance is in effect God’s subjection of God’s own ‘comfort’ to the harming-to-God will(s) of creation. Such endurance is not motivated by fear or external oppression. If it is in fact done, it is done with the confidence of an omnipotent being. Thus the reaction of an omnipotent being, who chooses to remain benevolent to opposition, is confident endurance.
