Have We Also Tested God?

 “But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs in Egypt and the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it.” ‭‭Numbers‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬-‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬ 

Reflecting on this verse, I wondered how the men of Israel had tested God. They tested Him ten times. So I did some research.

An article on believer.com provided the verses to understand these ten times. I would like to share them in a few blog posts.

Here’s the first installment:)

Exodus 14:11-12: “They said to Moses, ‘Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.’”

The Lord delivered the people from slavery in Egypt and from their enemies. They witnessed many signs and wonders before their freedom. But now, facing the Red Sea and the approaching Egyptians, they feared, panicked, and complained to Moses. As Psalm 78:11 confirms, they forgot God’s works and wonders. They lacked trust in His salvation.

Don’t we sometimes do the same? We forget God’s faithfulness and how He answered our prayers. When difficulties arise, we too begin to complain.

Exodus‬ ‭15‬:‭23‬-‭24‬(ESV‬‬) “When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?””

They witnessed God’s miracle as He parted the Red Sea, leading them on dry ground while holding back the Egyptians. Yet how quickly the Israelites forget Gods goodness and they begin to complain of thirst, unaware of God’s care. They tested Him at Marah, failing to trust Him to provide.

Exodus 16:1-3 (ESV): “They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from Egypt. And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, saying, ‘Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’”

Despite only two months since God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, they grumbled again. They were tired, had been walking for days, and were hungry. They began grumbling even though God had been meeting their needs. They didn’t see it, their faith was weak, and they hadn’t learned to trust Him.

Ever been there?

Weary of waiting, wondering how much more you must endure, and questioning whether God truly cares?

Now is not the time to cut your losses and run, but a time to remember God’s faithfulness, goodness, and how He has cared for you. A time to remember, 

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23(ESV)

To be continued…