Psalm 95:7–9 (ESV) — 7 For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9 when your fathers put me to the test
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my
work.
NOTE: The more I
read this passage, the more I am convinced that the Israelite's lack of faith
was not a disbelief in God's power. Even the passage says, "though they
had seen my work." No, the issue is the phrase "put me to the
test" and "put me to the proof." What were they testing or
trying to prove? That God is powerful? I don't think so. The only one that
makes sense, given that Massah and Meribah refer to the places where the people
ran out of water in the desert, is his care. They had only a few days to live
given three million people needing water. The babies, the children, and some of
the animals will die. The people "demand" that God supply water, else
it proves God does not care. There is no doubt God is powerful, but does God
care? Water could not wait, but was required immediately for survival,
therefore God must respond now! The issue was that the people did not believe
God loved or cared for them individually. He was moving the nation to an objective
in the grand scheme, but they were not sure he cared or knew them individually.
They had no personal relationship with God. Unlike David, who later would exalt
in a personal relationship, these people did not believe in God's love. We need
the same faith of David, not that God is powerful and can do anything, but that
God will do what is best for me because he loves me (and that may include him
not doing what we want him to do--which is true faith). Help me Lord, to obey
your word and to believe in your love for me, and my family.
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