That Was Then—This Is Now!

He made streams come out of the rock

and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

Yet they sinned still more against him,

rebelling against the Most High in the desert.

(Psalm 78:16-17)

 

Back in the early days of polyester fabrics, when wearing polyester clothing felt like being outfitted in plastic wrap, there were advertisements proclaiming the wonders of “memory yarn,” material that supposedly always returned to its original shape after being stretched beyond normal limits.  It was as if this material had little brains scattered throughout that “remembered” what life was like in the good old days before an extra-large person tried to squeeze into its petite boundaries…right!

Psalm 78  presents a portrait of God’s people not all that different from memory yarn.  No matter what God did for the Israelites, it seems they always reverted to their original shape—they were truculent and self-serving.  They were complainers who regularly saw the giants instead of the fruit.  How could they witness miracle after miracle that God performed to rescue and preserve them and still not change?

Whenever we find ourselves asking this question when reading about God’s people under the Old Covenant, it should be a warning to us that we are on thin ice spiritually.  As that sage philosopher Pogo stated 40 years ago, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”  Often the very things we judge about God’s people in former times are things we allow to go unchecked in ourselves.

Praise springs quickly to our lips when life seems to be going our way.  It is easy for us to speak of God in glowing terms when we can see no clouds on the horizon.  But what happens when lightning flashes and thunder rolls and the sky grows dark with storm clouds?  “I know God has preserved me in this kind of situation in the past, but where is He when I need Him now?”  We all have the tendency to revert to “wilderness whining” when the pressure is on.  And when we do this we are putting God on trial—testing Him as to the veracity of His Word and the faithfulness of His character.

They spoke against God, saying,

“Can God spread a table in the wilderness?

He struck the rock so that water gushed out

and streams overflowed.

Can he also give bread

or provide meat for his people?”

(Psalm 78:19-20)

What they said (and what we often echo in our own hearts) is this: “We know that God did the impossible…but can He do the impossible?”

That was then—this is now!  Yes, I know that God provided for me in the past, but can He do it now?  I want it NOW!  In other words, “What have You done for me lately, God?”  And I will tell you from my own experience that there is no air freshener on earth that can get rid of that stench!  Only sincere repentance can remove it.

Paul wrote these words to the church at Corinth, words that should always be on our minds as we read the accounts of God’s dealings with His people:

Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil

as they did. (1 Corinthians 10:6, see also 11-13)

Is there an obstacle in your path that you can see no way around?  Turn to God, don’t turn away.  Ask Him for His perspective so that you can see your situation clearly.  Wait confidently for God to show you His solution—the way past the obstacle.  Remember what God has done and what He continues to do.  Often the very thing that wounds is the thing that heals.  Ask God to help you to stir up your courage and rejoice!

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

(Colossians 1:9-14)

Soli Deo Gloria!