READ: Exodus 15:22-17:7 /
Psalm 40
Verse
chosen for meditation: Exodus 17:7
7 And he called the name
of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of
Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or
not?”
REFLECT
Today’s
reading is filled with demands after demands, made by the people to God. When
they could not drink the water because it was bitter, they grumbled (Exodus 15:23-24). When they were hungry, they grumbled, even insinuating that God brought
them out of Egypt just to kill them (Exodus 16:2-3). They’d rather die in Egypt
beside abundant food, than starve in the wilderness.
Moses’
annoyance with the people peaked when they found no water again, and grumbled
yet again, this time sounding more entitled (Exodus 17:1-3). In doing so, they
questioned God’s character, power and wisdom. Not too long ago, God had
displayed his power and love for the people, hearing their cries for freedom
and miraculously saving them from slavery. Such is the forgetfulness and
ungratefulness of men at the first sign of physical needs not being met. This
testing of God was what made Moses name the place Massah (meaning “testing”).
What does it mean to test God? Can we do that? Deuteronomy 6:16 says, “You shall
not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.”
RELATE
This
prompts much thinking on how we request things from God. Do I only petition for
fleshly desires, or for things aligned to His heart for this world? Do I
challenge God, and conclude wrongly what kind of God He is based on the results
of my demands? Moses was displeased with how the people demanded from God, because
they did not trust God to provide in his own time and way. Despite that kind of
attitude, God still gave in to their demands! Can our God be manipulated this
way? What a mystery! We learn then that God does grant us with some things,
even when we ask in the wrong way. What’s important is not the granting of such
requests, but whether our demands dishonour God.
I
know of someone who shared this testimony before: “I confidently asked, If you are God, give me this promotion, so I can bless more people,
and they know you are real and powerful. And here I am, newly promoted. Thank
God! Praise be to God!” Fast forward several years and the result: He did not quite
use his position to bless more, but instead wanted more and fell into
depression, with an emptiness that no amount of prestige and money could
satisfy. This makes me wonder sometimes, whether the things we get are from
God, or Satan (Note that Satan has power to give us things). Imagine thanking God for something Satan gave.
Or was it simply that God allowed it, like what happened at Massah? Because
of this person’s attitude of testing God and insistence on his way, it forms a
barrier between him and God, depriving him of something better that God may
have for him.
On
the contrary, I’ve another good friend who desires and prays so much to find a
spouse and have kids. With many suitors, and the pressure of her peers getting
married, it’s tempting to compromise on certain values rather than wait on the
Lord for the right man, if such a person exists at all. Hurting for her, I
asked how she continued trusting in the Lord. She said she believed His
promises will come to pass. I asked, “Promise that God will give you a
spouse?”. She said “No. Promise that if I trust in Him, He will give me what’s
best for me. If singleness is what’s best for me, so be it. Yes, I’ll feel sad
if I don’t get married, but I rest in knowing that God knows what’s best for me,
for I do not know better. If I am rebellious in getting what I want, perhaps my
marriage will end badly, and I become a wreck.”
Like
my friend, our prayer requests should be asking in faith. Some dangerously
define faith as belief that God will give everything they ask. They
misinterpret the verse “Ask and it will be given”. Faith, instead, is
surrendering to God fully, with the assurance that He knows what’s best for us.
When we demand things from God without questioning if they are to His will, we
are not asking in faith. Those who do this may get what they want, but could
end up harming themselves. Those who ask in faith may not get what they want, but
it doesn’t distress them, for they know God will answer their prayers in the
best way, even if they do not understand why that is best. Hence, they have
contentment in whatever circumstances they are in.
REST
Dear
Lord, you know my deepest desires and my constant prayers for them. Much as I want
you to grant them, do so only if it honours you. May my asking and motivations
behind them always be pleasing to you. Amen.
Chris
Chong
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