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Glory Seed Devotionals, 2016: Expedition of Light and Truth
Testing or trusting, part 2…
“So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded. “Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the LORD?”” (Exodus 17:2, NLT)
I am not sure whether you’ve ever heard the phrase “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” or not. The Israelites were not looking for grease instead they were “squeaking” for water and because God is merciful Moses was able to make water flow from a rock. After the people quenched their thirst, “Moses named the place Massah (which means “test”) and Meribah (which means “arguing”) because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the LORD by saying, “Is the LORD here with us or not?”” (Exodus 17:7, NLT)
Let’s revisit the line between testing God and trusting God. Perhaps Jesus’ prayer the night of his arrest can help us understand the dilemma a little better. Do you remember this part? “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Luke 22:42, NLT) Jesus was not asking God to prove Himself nor was he guessing whether God could take away the cup or not he KNEW God was capable of taking it away, however Jesus left the doing up to God.
Our faith may never get as strong and deep as Jesus’ faith was nevertheless through our relationship with him we too do not need God to prove Himself nor do we need to guess what God is capable of doing. At the same time we do not need to prove ourselves to God either. God knows what we’re capable to doing and out of his foreknowledge and unconditional love at times goes to great length (even to the point of testing us) to get us where we need to be.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might!
Grace and PEACE, Amen!
Gary
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”Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD.” (Psalm 89:15, NLT)
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“Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.”