Day 13: Provision in the Wilderness

Life is often a mixed bag of incredible moments mixed with difficult ones, to put it lightly. The “highs” often seem fleeting, and the “lows” seem to last forever. The brand-new nation of Israel experienced God’s rescue from slavery, toting silver and gold from their former captors amid their departure. They experienced God splitting a body of water in half. They wandered without water for three days and again, God provided, miraculously quenching their thirst and leading them to an oasis. Now, they face starvation.

They begin complaining, wishing they were back in Egypt where at least they would have died with a full belly. It is easy to see their doubt creep in, filtering their past through a cynical lens created by their current predicament. Was it really God who led us this far? What if we are actually on our own out here? Note: they blame Moses. The Israelites begin to reimagine their experiences not as God’s provision, but as the works of an incompetent leader bumbling forward without a plan, who must have just gotten lucky thus far.

I tell people often that I am a “highly logical person,” my way of admitting I can be cynical. This outlook makes it easy for me to downplay God’s role in my life. The issue with cynicism is that it tricks me into thinking I see things more clearly, when in fact, I’m missing out on the bigger picture, much like the Israelites. The miraculous can easily be filtered out to appear mundane or coincidental. I begin to doubt I’ve even had any highs. When I minimize or dismiss the ways I have seen God move in the past, I begin to seriously doubt that He will provide in my present and future.

And yet, God is patient with me (as He was with the Israelites), and He mercifully provides yet again. I am coming out of a season of cynicism and indignation towards God. I have seen God meet me when I humble myself and surrender to Him, despite how I feel. I began shattering the cynical lens I was holding onto by reminding myself of who God is and how He has worked in the past through difficult seasons. I trust more in God than in what I see in front of me. In what ways do you need to do the same? What “lens” is making you see His provision less clearly?

When Moses cries out to the Lord, the Israelites are given manna and quail, satisfying their legitimate need for food. This provides for them now, but more importantly Moses reminds them that through this “you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt.” It was God who brought you here, and it is He who will lead you onward.


PRAY:
Lord, thank you for your patience, mercy, and provision – even in my seasons of doubt, when I dismiss your goodness and love. I take time now to reflect on the ways I am refiltering my past or present incorrectly. Guide me to remember in hard seasons that you have never left me. Help me to lay down my pride and surrender even when I don’t want to, so that I can see your goodness more clearly. Amen.