~ written by Connie Dunmyer
Psalm 78:18-22 – 18 They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved. 19 They spoke against God; they said, “Can God really spread a table in the wilderness? 20 True, he struck the rock, and water gushed out, streams flowed abundantly, but can he also give us bread? Can he supply meat for his people?” 21 When the Lord heard them, he was furious; his fire broke out against Jacob, and his wrath rose against Israel, 22 for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance.
Whenever I read about the Israelites in the desert, I get just a little bit prideful thinking “I would never have been that way.” God gave them manna! Manna never ever existed – and poof, there it was. Verse 25 refers to it as “the bread of angels”. I mean Wow! Every morning, just like clockwork (or sundial work).
But who am I kidding?! I might have been worse. For instance, I have a very small comfort window. I prefer 70-76 degrees during the day, and 60-65 degrees for sleeping. Yes – I am that specific. And I do like to walk. But 4 miles is pretty much my limit. And don’t even get me started on desert snakes, scorpions, and spiders. So I am fairly confident that even if I wasn’t complaining about the food – I would not be a happy camper about several other things.
And of course, let’s think about today. How often do I come before God, with weeping and complaining, begging for something I “crave”. Even though God has always provided . . . even though He sent us an angel at least twice . . . even though we have actual miracles under our belts . . . even though we eat the bread of angels . . . and even though water has gushed from the hard rocks in our lives . . . even though I have the scriptures that show me what NOT to do . . . how often do I return with “but can He do this – this time?”
Yes, there are moments, I admit, when I, too, do “not believe in God or trust in His deliverance.”
Instead, I allow so-called 'logic' to dictate. Or I allow fear to become a major obstacle in mind. Or I permit distractions and excuses to replace the words of God Himself. Oooo – and what about grumbling? How often do I mumble about my want/desire under my breath? Like “I guess I will never have xyz”, or “I don’t know why God doesn’t bless me like He does so-n-so”, “I’m better than that person,” or even, “God must be mad at me.”
Well – even though I deserve for God to be mad at me – I’m pretty sure that was not the case.
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail; 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23
Just like manna – the bread of angels – God’s mercies, His compassions, His GREAT LOVE is brand new every single morning! He doesn’t hold grudges. He doesn’t tally up my grumbles and complaints from the days before. His love, compassion and mercy is new for me every morning.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. – Psalm 30:5
How very grateful I am! I cannot say I always understand the “why” things happen in my life – or in yours. But I know that I know that I know our Father loves us, He cares for us, He has real compassion for us. And because He is God, and because He is Sovereign, and because He has the ability to “consume” us (but does not do so) – He has the power to see me through this trial, and the next, and the next and the next – to provide – to comfort – to love – to forgive. All I need do – all we need do – is call upon Him, and trust that what He’s done in the past was just the “appetizer”. Greater things than “bread of angels” are on the way!