Day 692: What God keep's on doing – Psalm 78 vs 20 -39

20-22 The people said “He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed - can God also give bread or provide meat for his people?” Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power.

23-25 Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven, and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. 26-29 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind; he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas; he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all round their dwellings. And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved. 30-31 But before they had satisfied their craving, while the food was still in their mouths, the anger of God rose against them, and he killed the strongest of them and laid low the young men of Israel. 32-33 In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror.

34-37 When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer. But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast towards him; they were not faithful to his covenant. 38-39 Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again. Psalm 78:20-39 From English Standard Version

Have you ever wondered what the last thing you ever do on earth will be? John Stott, a well known servant of God, was surrounded by family and close friends reading the Bible and listening to Handel’s Messiah when he peacefully died. What a contrast that was to the people we read of in vs 30-31! They were in the middle of feeding a rebellious craving when death overtook them. What had God already done for those people? (vs 23-25)

He had miraculously fed the multitude with what the Bible called 'manna'. But after a while they were dissatisfied with that and demanded meat. Once again God showed His awesome power over His creation and caused a strong wind to deposit birds as plentiful as sand on the shore to fall into their camp. But because of their rebelliousness and putting Him to the test, while the meat was still in their mouths, He struck many of them down. Yet even then, what was the sad result vs 32-33 describe?

The tragic story of the journey from Egypt to Canaan was that a whole generation died on the way because they did not believe God was able to care for them each step of the way. But before we harshly judge them – is it possible we have also behaved at times like they did as described in vs 34-37?

There’s a real danger of superficial sorrow. The apostle Paul put it well when he said: “The kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10) It's a lack of true repentance that can lead to a person's last actions on earth being something shameful, and which had been a regular part of their life. Yet what is the great hope vs 38-39 sets before us?

God is slow to anger and very compassionate. He knows how weak we are. That's why Israel wasn’t totally destroyed but eventually reached the promised land. God often restrained His anger and forgave their sin. What an encouragement for us to trust in God all the more. Have we failed Him often? Let us repent with genuine sorrow. He is a compassionate God who keeps forgiving – not just seven times, but, even seventy times seven! (Matthew 18:22)