Last week, we
discovered the significance of casting out fear, standing firm, and being still
as we trust God to work out whatever problems or challenges we are facing. It’s
not easy, we are human, and we want to “do something” much like the Israelites
who thought going back to Egypt was the answer. We’ve seen how God made a way
for the Israelites on their journey to the Promise Land – covering them and
blessing them – their only requirement was to trust God. It was challenging.
On the other side of the Red Sea, we continue to see the Nation of Israel’s disappointing pattern of behavior (Exodus 16). When everything was going well, they trusted God and made progress, but the moment a trial or problem came, they complained and asked to return to Egypt.
In Exodus 16:1-2, the discomfort is their appetite, their craving for food, specifically the foods of Egypt. Those of us who fast know the power of food cravings. Our appetites can be dangerous – and their craving for the food of Egypt makes them want to return to an oppressive situation instead of going forward into the blessing God has promised. Our appetites can do the same – causing us to abandon God’s best in our lives and return to the very things God brought us out of! God knows our cravings and one of the most important ways we can trust God is trusting Him to meet those needs. We can’t go back to our “Egypt” to satisfy our appetites because we know God will meet all of our needs if we trust Him.
How do we know this? God promised them (Exodus 16:4-5) and God promises us. Despite their grumbling, in His grace and mercy, He still promised to meet all their needs. The same is true for us, think of all the times we’ve grumbled or complained, and God still met our needs, by His grace and mercy, and in spite of us! As believers we live on the promises of God, not explanations. Though we often want to know the “why” behind our problems and disappointments, God doesn’t provide a lot of explanations – does He? And yet, He has given us thousands of promises in His Word.
When we ask God “why” we are giving the impression we are in charge and God is accountable to us – but we know God is sovereign and doesn’t have to explain. The truth is, explanations won’t heal our hurting hearts, but God’s promises do! God knows exactly where we are and what we need, and He promises to meet those needs if we will just trust Him. May we put our faith in His promises because of His faithfulness to us and His past performances on our behalf – even in spite of our behavior.
On the other side of the Red Sea, we continue to see the Nation of Israel’s disappointing pattern of behavior (Exodus 16). When everything was going well, they trusted God and made progress, but the moment a trial or problem came, they complained and asked to return to Egypt.
In Exodus 16:1-2, the discomfort is their appetite, their craving for food, specifically the foods of Egypt. Those of us who fast know the power of food cravings. Our appetites can be dangerous – and their craving for the food of Egypt makes them want to return to an oppressive situation instead of going forward into the blessing God has promised. Our appetites can do the same – causing us to abandon God’s best in our lives and return to the very things God brought us out of! God knows our cravings and one of the most important ways we can trust God is trusting Him to meet those needs. We can’t go back to our “Egypt” to satisfy our appetites because we know God will meet all of our needs if we trust Him.
How do we know this? God promised them (Exodus 16:4-5) and God promises us. Despite their grumbling, in His grace and mercy, He still promised to meet all their needs. The same is true for us, think of all the times we’ve grumbled or complained, and God still met our needs, by His grace and mercy, and in spite of us! As believers we live on the promises of God, not explanations. Though we often want to know the “why” behind our problems and disappointments, God doesn’t provide a lot of explanations – does He? And yet, He has given us thousands of promises in His Word.
When we ask God “why” we are giving the impression we are in charge and God is accountable to us – but we know God is sovereign and doesn’t have to explain. The truth is, explanations won’t heal our hurting hearts, but God’s promises do! God knows exactly where we are and what we need, and He promises to meet those needs if we will just trust Him. May we put our faith in His promises because of His faithfulness to us and His past performances on our behalf – even in spite of our behavior.