Yes, his anger rose against Israel, for they did not believe God or trust him to care for them. But he commanded the skies to open; he opened the doors of heaven. He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them bread from heaven. They ate the food of angels! God gave them all they could hold. He released the east wind in the heavens and guided the south wind by his mighty power. He rained the east wind in the heavens and guided the south wind by his mighty power. He rained down meat as thick as dust– birds as plentiful as the sand on the seashore! He caused the birds to fall within their camp and all around their tents. The people ate their fill. He gave them what they craved.
-Psalm 78: 21c-29 [NLT]
Reflection
As I was reading this passage earlier today I nearly cried. How many times do we KNOW that God can do miraculous things and take us out of all our troubles but just can't seem to TRUST that will do it. God is our wonderful father and maker so of course he would take care of us. Not putting our trust in God makes him angry because after everything that he does we still can't see past our human limitations or the devil's rose-colored glasses and know God is far greater than anything we could possibly think of.
What stood out to me was that even though God was so angry with Israel because they didn't put their trust in him, He still gave them all they needed to survive the wilderness. When they were thirsty He had water pour out of a rock. When they were hungry He opened the skies and had food fall to them. He gave them enough to the point they were full, and yet they still didn't trust God.
The world is our wilderness and we have to walk through it each and everyday but God is giving us all we need to survive. No matter who hurt us or the guilt we may feel, God loves us so much that he doesn't unleash his total anger because he remembers that we are mortal and our mortality is rooted in sin (Psalm 78:38-39). His love for us runs so deep that he himself died for us. He laid his life and took on our humiliation. He allowed himself to be mutilated. He allowed himself to be spit on and cursed. The pain he felt while on earth is nothing compared to the love that drove him.
Reflection Song
Artist: Flyleaf
Song: Circle
-:- PeaceLoveHarmony -:-
