Of Course He Will

Have y’all ever read the first couple of books of the Bible? It’s challenging to read about God's deliverance of the Isralites and not feel some type of frustration with the Israelites. The doubt they have towards God seems to contradict everything that God has revealed to them about himself. As you read the stories of God’s mighty deliverances and then the stories of the peoples’ doubts almost immediately after, you are left feeling like, ‘what in the world Israel… stop doubting God when He has clearly shown you He will take care of you.’

In case you aren’t familiar with all of God's mighty provisions for His people, let me break it down a little. 

First up- God calls the people out of slavery from Egypt. The Israelites had been in slavery more than 400 years, and delivery seemed impossible. But the Lord sends 10 mighty plagues over the Egyptians until Pharaoh changes his heart, and lets the Israelites go. You would think that watching the mighty hand of God deliver them from Pharaoh would be enough to secure their faith in the Lord for eternity, but yet, as soon as they approached their first obstacle in the road, the Red Sea, the Israelites started doubting and complaining against God. “Let us be slaves to the Egyptians”, they said, “It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness.” (Ex 14:12) 

Y’all… God had just delivered them from a 400 plus year general curse of slavery in a mighty miraculous way, and they are really out here thinking God was just going to abandon them by the Red Sea? That just seems crazy.

And yet, God meets them in their doubts, and parts the Red Sea and provides a miraculous way for the Israelites to make it through to safety. Again, you would think that surely this miracle would solidify their faith forever. I mean, surely watching the sea open up for you would lock in your faith for eternity, but yet, a couple days later, the Israelites are back at doubting and complaining yet again when they could not find any drinking water- “What are we going to drink?” they demanded to Moses (Ex 16:24)

Take a guess what God did in response to their complaints and doubts. He provided yet again. The Lord had Moses throw a piece of wood into the bitter water, and miraculously transforms it into delicious drinking water. And yet, just a few days later, the doubts and complaints started again when they could not find food. “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned…”But you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.” 

Y’all… like are they for real??? God has been continually working miracles right in front of their 
faces for the last month, and they really think God is going to just let them starve now? It makes no sense, and it seems outrageous reading it, but yet, God meets them yet again in their doubt and provides quail and manna from heaven. Time and time again, the Lord keeps showing them He will meet all of their needs in a miraculous way. They have nothing to fear, because He has them. 

And yet, not even a couple weeks later, the Israelites are back at it when they run out of water again. As a reader, you are thinking that surely this time the Israelites are going to have faith in God’s provision. God has already shown them that He will provide water in the wilderness, not even a month prior, and yet the Israelites instead respond in doubt and complaints. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt?” they asked, “are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?” (ex 17:3)

Y’all.. Like what is this? How can they doubt God at this point? God had already shown them He will provide and take care of them! This seems like madness at this point! Well, no surprise, God shows up, and has Moses strike a rock with his staff so that delicious drinking water comes gushing out from the rock. 

Time and time again, God shows that He is faithful and that He will take care of His people. Miracle after miracle, God demonstrates to His people that He will make a way when it looks like there is not a way. Day after day, God shows up and shows His people that He will provide all of their needs.

Their doubt seems ridiculous when reading the stories of God’s deliverance and provisions. How could they ever doubt that God would show up? How could they ever doubt that God would provide? When you read all of the accounts of the prior faithfulness of God in their life, you are left thinking, well of course God is going to provide. Of course He is going to come through. Of course He is going to be faithful.. . like duh, come on now, Of course He is going to work miracles out here. He has never failed you Israel, never once, so why would he fail you now? Of course God has you. 

It’s so obvious to feel this way when reading stories of the faithfulness of God with the Isralites,
and yet, so often, I am the Israelites.

I was reading these passages and shaking my head in disbelief at the Israelites' doubt in God’s ability to provide even after they had seen God come through for them time after time, when God told me that I was not so different from the Israelites… ouch, that one stung. But dang, ain’t that the truth. So often, I find myself doubting God’s ability to come through for me, and feel ridden with anxiety as I face my seemingly stressful circumstances. Every new challenge that pops up in my life, and every new obstacle that I face, has the potential to rattle my faith. When I fixate on the circumstance in front of me,  instead the faithfulness of God, I start to sound like the Israelites. 

How many times in life have I stressed out about money and being able to pay my bills? But yet, God has always taken care of my financial needs and shown me that He will be my provider. 
How many times in life have I worried about being alone forever? But yet, God has shown me time and time again He will provide beautiful friendships, and be my faithful companion. 

How many times in life have I stressed out about not knowing what I am supposed to be doing with my life? But yet, God has continually shown me He is guiding and leading me on the path He has for me. 

How many times in life have I worried about my health and things going on with my body? And yet, God has continually shown me He is my great physician who can miraculously heal me.

How many times in life have I stressed out about not seeing a way out of a circumstance? And 
yet, God has never failed me once with bringing me out of the stressful circumstance. 

God has never failed me, no, not even once. He has always come through. He has always made a way. He has always provided. He has always taken care of me. He has always been faithful. 

When I look at the faithfulness of God in my life, I start to feel like I feel when reading about the faithfulness of God with the Israelites. It feels ridiculous to worry. It feels ridiculous to doubt God’s provision in my life. It seems so obvious to know that God is going to come through. 

It is easy to forget the faithfulness of the Lord when we fixate on our circumstances instead of fixating on Lord’s faithfulness. While we are called to press forward in our faith, it is good to sometimes look back, and remember the Lord’s miraculous works and provisions in our lives so far. It is good to remind our souls of the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord in our lives, and to remember the nature of the Lord’s heart for us. 

When I look back on what the Lord has already done in my life, it makes it seem so obvious to trust Him with everything in my life moving forward. The Lord has never failed me, but instead has sustained me and provided for me and has always met all of my needs. He is my good father who loves me and cares for me. He is my loving Savior who died for me. He is my almighty Lord who defeated the grave for me so that I could join Him in heaven someday. 

Looking back at His faithfulness in my life, it only seems obvious to trust him moving forward. There is no need to fear any circumstance that comes my way, because I know God has me. 

Of course He is going to move mountains for me. Of course He is going to provide for me. Of course He is going to pave a way for me. Of course He is going to come through. 

The Lord is faithful. That is just who He is, so the answer is obvious no matter what circumstance I face. Of course God is going to come through. ​