Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Have you ever met anyone who seemed to have been born in the negative case and kickative mood? Who, if their bed had a right side, always seemed to manage to stumble out on the opposite one? Who, when you asked them how they were doing, would really feel it necessary to tell you by reciting a list of all the things that had gone wrong in their life; all the way back to the day of their birth? Perhaps the same person acted as if they felt God had given them a divine appointment to judge and criticise all the inferior beings with which they were surrounded. In addition, they seemed to feel commissioned to make sure everyone measured up to the standard they imagined they met. The sort of person you wanted to ask, "Who appointed you God, anyway?"

Before we judge too harshly, let's consider the story of the griping and complaining Israelites. They came as a mixed multitude through the very jaws of death. Then one day they stood on the brink of destruction on the shore of the Red Sea. There was no way back. They could see the flash of sunlight on their enemies’ weapons and hear the harsh cries of the cruel, battle-hardened warriors in the Pharaoh's terrible war chariots. Their slaughter was more than imminently certain. It was at this pivotal point of their journey that God had Moses to cry out these immortal and awe inspiring words, "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord..."

What a tremendous lesson and experience God gave them that day! But it didn't seem to last. Israel's constant problem seemed to be their inability to stand still long enough to truly remember the salvation of the Lord. They couldn't stand still enough, in all their whining and griping, to catch the cry of the still small voice of God as He spoke peace to their hearts. In spite of the continuing great victories He gave them, they continued to wander aimlessly and faithlessly to their self-destruction, murmuring and complaining all the way. This murmuring demonstrated a complete lack of faith and trust. This is especially true when considered against the background of the many times God had proven His faithfulness by miraculously providing all their needs in every situation. In the end their murmuring and faithlessness precipitated the judgement and severe chastisement of a loving Father.

It is against this background in the Hebrew letter that God urges a faith-rest life upon His people. The sort of life He wishes all His people in every age to live. He wishes us to know we can rest in Him no matter what the circumstance. That we can have utter faith and confidence in His provision, no matter what the conditions. That even though all others may desert us in our time of trial and trouble, He will never leave us or forsake us. That even though our fair-weather friends may fail us in our frailty and fall by the wayside, He will uphold us with His strong right hand. "Great is Thy faithfulness.."