HAS GOD BEEN FAITHFUL TO YOU?

WHY WOULD WE EVER QUESTION HIS LOVE AND CARE?

Psalm 78:12-16

In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders

in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.

He divided the sea and let them pass through it,

and made the waters stand like a heap.

In the daytime he led them with a cloud,

and all the night with a fiery light.

He split rocks in the wilderness

and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.

He made streams come out of the rock

and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

God had done incredible miracles. The children of Israel had seen His mighty works, and they had always reacted with praise and worship. It would seem logical that they would also have continued to serve and worship their God, but this was not so. In spite of it all, they kept sinning against God.

Psalm 78:17-20

Yet they sinned still more against him,

rebelling against the Most High in the desert.

They tested God in their heart

by demanding the food they craved.

They spoke against God, saying,

“Can God spread a table in the wilderness?

He struck the rock so that water gushed out

and streams overflowed.

Can he also give bread

or provide meat for his people?”

They sinned, rebelled, questioned, and spoke against their God. They were never satisfied; when their needs were not met, they reacted in sin. The psalmist shows how this was the result of what was in their hearts. Lest we look at the Israelites with disdain, we must stop and examine our own hearts and lives.

Their sin was questioning the ability and desire of God to provide for them. When we become bitter or complain, we are doing the exact same thing. When we become discontent and vent our demands, we are guilty of their same sin. God continues to provide for and preserve us, and yet we tend not to be satisfied. God was not indifferent to the actions of the Israelites and our dissatisfaction still angers Him today.

Psalm 78:21-22

Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of wrath;

a fire was kindled against Jacob;

his anger rose against Israel,

because they did not believe in God

and did not trust his saving power.

Did you notice what angered God? That they did not believe in Him and they did not trust Him. Dear friends, we must stop and examine our lives and recognize all those words and actions that expose our own lack of belief and trust. When the Bible tells us that we should live by faith, it means that we should not behave in a way that questions God’s wisdom, power, character, and love. I am amazed and humbled by the fact that, as He did with the children of Israel, He shows grace to us.

Psalm 78:23

Yet he commanded the skies above

and opened the doors of heaven,

The next verses display the way God continued to show His grace. Dear friends, maybe we should stop to reflect on the ways God has continued to show grace to us, despite our lack of faith. He continues to forgive us, although we continue to fall short. And Israel continued in their roller coaster relationship with their God.

Psalm 78:37

Their heart was not steadfast toward him;

they were not faithful to his covenant.

We should guard our hearts and lives from acting exactly like the Israelites.

Remember that this psalm started by reminding us that we must pass the knowledge of our God on to our children. Our actions expose what we really believe. Our families are watching and learning who God is to us from our attitudes and actions. We must guard our lives’ testimonies, as we are observed by others.

God is not at all indifferent to our relationship with Him. Yes, He does show grace, but He is displeased when we do not believe and trust Him. God has shown Himself so faithful. May we praise His accordingly, and be grateful for His constant care and grace toward us. If we need to, let us confess our sin to Him and to those to whom we have been a poor testimony and let us worship our God.