Remembering God's Faithfulness: Lessons from the Israelites’ Wanderings
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Life is filled with trials, hardships, and obstacles that often challenge our faith and resilience.
In the face of adversity, it is a blessing that we as Christians can turn to our faith for strength and guidance. However, it’s all too easy to panic, get scared, and let fear eclipse our faith!
The best way to counteract this is by opening the Bible and reading about how God has provided for His people, removing seemingly impossible obstacles from their paths.
A great place to find a bevy of examples of this is in the Old Testament in Exodus-Deuteronomy, which covers the stories of the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. It seems like they faced impossible obstacle after impossible obstacle.
Despite the countless miracles and interventions God provided for them, the Israelites struggled with forgetfulness—forgetting how God led them through their most challenging moments.
This tendency to overlook divine guidance is not unique to the Israelites; it's something we’ve all done, often without even noticing.
In this blog post, we will explore four examples from the Israelites’ wanderings that highlight their forgetfulness and draw valuable lessons about the importance of remembering God's faithfulness in the midst of hardships.
The Exodus and the Red Sea Crossing
The Israelites' journey through the wilderness began with the miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt.
Witnessing the ten plagues and experiencing the Passover, they emerged from the land of bondage, led by Moses. However, as they approached the Red Sea with the Egyptian army in pursuit, fear overcame them. In their distress, they cried out to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?" (Exodus 14:11).
God, in His mercy, parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground. The waters then engulfed the pursuing Egyptian army, ensuring the safety of God's chosen people.
Despite this incredible deliverance, the Israelites soon forgot the magnitude of God's power. In subsequent challenges, they questioned God's ability to lead them through difficulties, illustrating the danger of forgetfulness in the face of past victories.
Lesson: Reflecting on God's past deliverance empowers us to face present challenges with confidence. Because if He did it before, He can do it now!
Manna in the Wilderness
As the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness, they faced the harsh reality of limited resources. God, in His infinite wisdom and power, provided manna—a miraculous food source that appeared each morning. The people were instructed to gather just enough for the day, with an exception for the Sabbath. This divine provision sustained the Israelites throughout their wilderness wanderings.
However, as time passed, the people grew discontent with the daily manna. In Numbers 11:4-6, they complained, "Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for free, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our appetite is gone; there's nothing to look at but this manna!"
Despite God's continuous provision, the Israelites longed for the perceived comforts of their past, forgetting the bondage and oppression they had endured in Egypt.
Talk about looking at the past with rose-tinted lenses!
This forgetfulness led to ingratitude, highlighting the danger of overlooking God's blessings during times of abundance.
Lesson: Acknowledging God's daily provision fosters gratitude and guards against the lure of discontentment. Gratitude crowds out Satan’s attempt to put grumbling in your heart.
The Twelve Spies and the Promised Land
As the Israelites approached the long-awaited Promised Land, Moses selected twelve spies to scout the territory. They returned with a mixed report: a land flowing with milk and honey indeed, but it was inhabited by strong and numerous people the size of giants. Ten of the spies focused on the challenges, instilling fear in the hearts of the Israelites. Only Joshua and Caleb emphasized God's ability to conquer the obstacles and remind everyone that God promised them this land.
Despite witnessing God's faithfulness through miracles and deliverance, the majority of the Israelites succumbed to fear and doubt. In Numbers 14:2-3, they murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?"
Their forgetfulness of God's past miracles, guidance, and promises led to rebellion and a missed opportunity to enter the Promised Land. The consequence was forty years of wandering in the wilderness until the doubting generation passed away.
Lesson: Remembering God's faithfulness and promises in times of doubt strengthens our resolve and opens the door to His blessings.
Water from the Rock
Throughout their journey, the Israelites faced numerous challenges, including a lack of water. In one instance, recorded in Numbers 20:2-13, the people quarreled with Moses, expressing their frustration about the lack of water. Moses, not following God’s instruction, struck a rock instead of speaking to it. Nonetheless, God provided water that gushed forth abundantly.
Despite this miraculous provision, Moses and Aaron faced severe consequences for their disobedience. God declared that they would not enter the Promised Land due to their failure to obey Him.
Lesson: God blesses obedience. Always.
The Israelite’s experience journeying form Egypt to the Promised Land serves as a poignant reminder of the human tendency to forget God's faithfulness during times of hardship. The Israelites, despite witnessing miraculous interventions and experiencing divine guidance, often succumbed to doubt, fear, and ingratitude.
How often do we find ourselves doing the same, often without even realizing it? As we navigate our own challenges, it is crucial to reflect on the past, remembering how God has led us through difficulties and obstacles.
By examining the Israelites' experiences in the wilderness, we are reminded how God can do the impossible and the importance of cultivating a grateful and trusting heart.
God is faithful, and His character is unchanging.
As we move forward, let us strive to remember God's faithfulness, not only in moments of crisis but in the daily provisions, guidance, and redemptive acts that shape our lives. In doing so, we can draw strength, inspiration, and assurance from the God who led the Israelites through the wilderness and continues to guide us on our journey today.
If you’re looking to spend more time in God’s Word, a great way to start is by doing a Bible in a year challenge. The first time I did it, I was surprised how much of a difference that made in how I viewed the stories I had known for 35 years…especially the Old Testament. If you want to try reading the Bible in a year, click here to get my Bible in 365 Days for $3.99, which you can start any day of the year (also, since it’s not linked to specific days, if you miss a few days it’s easy to jump back in)!
