“To Humble You and Test You” #2123

2 And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:2–3, NKJV)

Israel’s wilderness wanderings tested their faith in the Lord God. Would they obey Him? Or would they rebel in disobedience when faced with hardships, setbacks, and uncertainties? God disciplined their hearts through the trial of hunger and by the blessing of daily manna (and other provisions, Deut. 8:4-6). God meant for their trials and blessings to humble them and turn their hearts to Him. God taught Israel by trials and blessings to live by “every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” God also lovingly teaches and corrects us by trials and blessings, like parents who love their children, Heb. 12:4-11). Life is more than bread. Life is more than comfort. Like Israel, life with God that lasts forever comes from God when we obey Him. Jesus knew this when the devil tempted Him to sin (Matt. 4:3-4). Let us accept God’s training during times of trial and blessing that we may humbly obey the Lord God and live with Him now and forever.

“Worthless Bread” #751

And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” (Numbers 21:5, NKJV)

God fed Israel bread from heaven every day for forty years during their wilderness wandering (Exo. 16:36). But, instead of joyful thanksgiving, Israel repaid the Lord God with the sins of complaining, grumbling and ingratitude. Do you find yourself complaining about God’s good gifts? For example, do you complain about Jesus, the “bread of God” which came from heaven to give life to the world (Jno. 6:33-35)? Do you resist His will, complaining and grumbling against His commands that are intended for your spiritual and eternal good? Give thanks in everything, and do not complain when Jesus commands your obedience. Learn from Israel and never allow your soul to loathe Jesus as “worthless bread.”