August 2, 2018
Psalm 78:23-29 New Living Translation (NLT)
As I write this devotion, the wind is blowing past the window and the sound of gentle thunder is echoing in the distance. It’s peaceful and almost reassuring to my soul as I read our passage today about how the heavens and earth are God’s domain to command. Our psalm today tells the story of the Israelites and how God took care of them. He fed them manna and quail to sustain them. At God’s Word heavenly food rained down and at God’s command the wind changed in direction and actually brought quail to the camp of the Israelites. However, the people who were taken out of slavery so they could experience the abundance in the land of promise, all too quickly forgot the wonders of God and his faithfulness to them. We must guard our hearts so we do not repeat history.
We always have a choice in our relationship with God, because his salvation offer is the same today. By a declaration of our faith in the work of Christ on the cross, the Lord takes us out of slavery to sin and selfish living. He calls us to join him on a new journey toward a land of promise where he will become our Provider. We can rejoice in God’s provision or grumble when he turns in a direction we do not really want to go. The Christian journey is all about trust and, if we are faithful to follow him, eventually we will look back and see the wisdom of God that has been acting in our behalf. Stay the course.
Psalm 78:23-29
23
But he commanded the skies to open;
he opened the doors of heaven.
24
He rained down manna for them to eat;
he gave them bread from heaven.
25
They ate the food of angels!
God gave them all they could hold.
26
He released the east wind in the heavens
and guided the south wind by his mighty power.
27
He rained down meat as thick as dust—
birds as plentiful as the sand on the seashore!
28
He caused the birds to fall within their camp
and all around their tents.
29
The people ate their fill.
He gave them what they craved.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for all you do as my Provider. When I grumble, convict me and help me to run toward you with gratitude. In Jesus’ name. Amen.