DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- TRUSTING OR COMPLAINING?

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – TRUSTING OR COMPLAINING?

Psalm 81:7 – "You called in trouble and I rescued you; I answered you in the hiding place of thunder; I proved (or tested) you at the waters of Meribah."

This Psalm is a psalm of rejoicing. Vs. 1 – Sing for joy to God our strength; Shout joyfully to the God of Jacob. In verses 3-6, the Psalmist recalled how God delivered Israel from the bondage of Egypt. God relieved the burden from their shoulder and from the basket – that is, from the slavery to Pharaoh that made them carry baskets of mud and straw to build Pharaoh's monuments. They called out to God and He rescued them through the Passover. The Passover feast was the celebration of God's deliverance from Egypt, and through the waters of the Red Sea.

But then God said, "I proved (or tested) you at the waters of Meribah" (vs. 7). To understand this, we need to go back to Exodus 15-17 for the context which chronicles Israel's early travels from Egypt. Just after the deliverance of the miracle of the crossing of the Red Sea, they came to Marah, where the water was bitter. The people complained (15:24). God was gracious even in their grumbling and did a miracle by making the waters sweet.

Then they entered the Wilderness of Sinai and they were without food. The people complained again (16:2) and God provided manna from heaven and quail for meat. God gave them precise instructions on how to collect the manna. God said the reason was so "that I may test them, whether they will walk in my way or not" (Exodus 16:4).

Then they journeyed to Rephidim where again there was no water. And again people contended with Moses – grumbled, murmured, and complained. Moses said, "Why do you tempt the LORD?" (Exodus 17:2). Moses went to the Lord with this problem and God told Moses to strike a rock with his staff. He did and water flowed.

Now which is it? Were the Israelites tempting God by their complaining? Or was God testing Israel to see how they would respond? Tests are not designed to show the teacher how much the student knows but to show the student how much he doesn't know.

Israel was a slow learner. God had shown His power and His provision in Egypt, at the Red Sea, at Marah, and by providing food. But still the people grumbled and did not trust God. They tested him like you would test a rope to see if it was strong enough to hold you. I was on a roof one time and to be safe, I tied a rope around a structure on the roof, and then around my waist. Before proceeding onto the roof, I yanked on the rope to make sure it would hold. It didn't. The rope broke and I went over backwards from the roof. I tested the rope, and the rope failed, but God never fails.

How do we pray? Are like Israel? We forget so easily how God has provided in the past, and when a new challenge comes our way, we grumble and complain. We test Him. Do I come to God murmuring, grumbling, and complaining about the situation? Or do I bring my petitions in faith to the God who never fails? There is a difference between complaining to God and praying to God. It is a matter of attitude. One is focused on our situation, and the other is focused on God's provision. Could God be allowing the test just to see if I will trust Him?

I need to learn to trust God in all circumstances instead of complaining.

Love, Dad