Scripture Daily

Context No. 3064 of 4322 · Psalms

Context · Reflection

Psalms 78:17-32: in context

17Yet they still went on to sin against him, to rebel against the Most High in the desert. 18They tempted God in their heart by asking food according to their desire. 19Yes, they spoke against God. They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? 20Behold, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide meat for his people?” 21Therefore the LORD heard, and was angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, anger also went up against Israel, 22because they didn’t believe in God, and didn’t trust in his salvation. 23Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven. 24He rained down manna on them to eat, and gave them food from the sky. 25Man ate the bread of angels. He sent them food to the full. 26He caused the east wind to blow in the sky. By his power he guided the south wind. 27He also rained meat on them as the dust, winged birds as the sand of the seas. 28He let them fall in the middle of their camp, around their habitations. 29So they ate, and were well filled. He gave them their own desire. 30They didn’t turn from their cravings. Their food was yet in their mouths, 31when the anger of God went up against them, killed some of their strongest, and struck down the young men of Israel. 32For all this they still sinned, and didn’t believe in his wondrous works.

The psalm recalls how Israel kept sinning in the wilderness, testing God in their hearts by demanding food. Even after he struck the rock and water gushed out, they sneered: can God spread a table in the wilderness? Can he give bread and meat too? God, angered by their unbelief, nonetheless opened the doors of heaven and rained down manna, the bread of angels, and quail in abundance. And still, the psalm says, they did not believe his wondrous works.

The striking thing is that God provided even in the teeth of their unbelief, and still they would not trust him. They had seen water flow from a rock, and asked, can he give bread also? He answered with manna and meat until they were filled, and still they did not believe. Provision does not automatically produce faith; a heart set on craving and doubt can receive gift after gift and remain unbelieving. Their problem was never that God failed to provide, but that they would not trust the Provider.

Do I let God's repeated provision build my trust in him, or, like Israel, keep doubting and craving even after he has proven faithful again and again?

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