“Whence Cometh Wisdom?”

Zophar, Eliphaz and Bildad, the three friends of Job were aged and experienced, but did not possess the wisdom as to why Job suffered, nor understand why Job would not renounce his innocence (Chapters 25–31). This wisdom still eludes so many today.  Questions such as ‘whence cometh suffering’ or ‘why does God allow bad things to happen to good people’ continue to be asked.

However, a young lad had the wisdom to answer both Job’s three friends and Job. Let us learn from the words of young Elihu, noticing an eternal truth that he stated in his reply from Job 32:6-12: “So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are very old; therefore I was afraid, and dared not declare my opinion to you. I said, ‘Age should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’ But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. Great men are not always wise, nor do the aged always understand justice. “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me, I also will declare my opinion.’ Indeed I waited for your words, I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say, I paid close attention to you; and surely not one of you convinced Job, or answered his words.” Notice especially what Elihu said in verse 8: ‘there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the almighty gives him understanding’.

Physical longevity does not make one wise in regard to salvation (2 Timothy 3:15). Such wisdom only comes from the breath of the Almighty. The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:9-14, “…but as it is written, things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, and which entered not into the heart of man,
whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.  But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God. But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words. Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.”

Elihu was wiser than those older in physical age because he had spiritual discernment. The scriptures will make one wise (knowledgeable) about why suffering exists, for they explain that suffering is a result of our sins against God. Jesus was purposed to die for our sins, and teach us how to live a life apart from sin. So, in His teaching, He explained how to be transformed from living self-ISH-ly, to living self-LESS-ly.

Elihu understood this and therefore understood why Job suffered. Suffering is the means by which a merciful God, rather than punish us as we deserve, sends us a ‘light affliction’ (2 Corinthians 4:17). This is out of His desire to bring us to repentance (Romans 2:4). By giving us a choice to take HIS yoke, we will inherit the eternal rewards like Moses did in suffering “affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25).

Exercising our faith in obedience is how we ‘witness’ to others. Obedience is the true evidence of saving faith. Obedience is the ‘work’ whereby faith is said to ‘justify’. Abraham is set forth as an example in James 2:20-24. The spiritual benefits of enduring suffering is seen from James 1:2-3. Suffering, when endured, declares our dependence upon God to deliver. The wisdom God gives about suffering’s purpose enables us to endure because a greater reward than sin’s pleasures is promised (Hebrews 11:26). Suffering is God’s way of strengthening our faith in Him to the point of obedience. In our obedience, we express our trust in God to fulfill His promises. While we may not see the connection between the promise and the command, a trusting faith does not question God’s love for us, nor God’s ways. All this wisdom from God is in His word, the Bible.

Do you understand why suffering is a part of human life? The scriptures provide the answers. Allow this wisdom to rule in your life and you will live the life described in James 3:17: “…pure; peaceable; gentle; easy to be intreated; full of mercy and good fruits; without partiality; and without hypocrisy.”

5/16/21
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"As The Manner of SOME Is"

Some…gladly received his word.
Acts 2.37

Some…stopped their ears.
Acts 7.54

The two passages above represent the only possible reactions from people when they are “cut to the heart” by God’s word. They will either accept or reject his word. God’s word convicts the heart of sin.

We read in Hebrews 4.12, “…for the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The apostle Paul stated that scripture has a fourfold benefit. He wrote, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3.16-17).

Paul, in his charge to the young preacher Timothy, foretold of those who would close their ears to God’s word: “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4.1-4). This term “fables” is mentioned by Paul in his epistles to both Timothy and Titus as it relates to preaching. He spoke much about it in them. In 1 Timothy 1.4, Paul said that fables “give rise to useless speculation rather than advance the plan of God, which is by faith.”

The appeal of fables is that they satisfy the passions for what is forbidden. This is why Paul described them as worthless or irreverent in 1 Timothy 4.7. Fables do not “prick the heart” in regard to sin. Those who seek to satisfy their passions through religion will seek a preacher who will “tickle” their ears (2 Timothy 4.3-4). Clearly, fables are contrary to sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1.10).

When people reject truth, they will turn to fables. Paul warned disciples about the preaching of fables. Preaching fables is a perversion of God’s word (2 Timothy 4.3-4; Titus 1.14). Peter assured those to whom he wrote that what they preached about Jesus were not fables: “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1.16).

Luke, in his writing of the Acts of the Apostles, described those who would “gladly receive” God’s word. The different reactions to the word of God declare what the word of God has revealed about the hearts of the individuals who hear it. A good and honest heart will “gladly receive” the word and do as the word instructs when “cut” (Acts 2.41). Out of the many Jews present on the day of Pentecost, about 3,000 received the word with joy. They were “cut to the heart,” yet received the message with joy. They acknowledged their guilt and wanted forgiveness.

However, those in Acts 7 had very different hearts. They had previously been unable to “resist” the wisdom and the spirit by which Stephen spake (Acts 6.10). Jesus, in forewarning his disciples of persecution from those who would reject his words, said, “This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict” (Luke 21.13-15).

When truth and fables clash, the one who is preaching truth will stand out by the wisdom and spirit in which he preaches. The one whose preaching is a perversion of truth will react in emotional outbursts of anger and underhandedly try to discredit his opponent, not being able to “gainsay” (prove wrong) or resist (oppose; withstand) exposure of his perversions. He will do similarly as those did toward Stephen. He will “secretly induce, stir up, and set up false witnesses.” Why such underhanded tactics? Because he can’t answer the “reproof, rebuke, and sound doctrine.”

A preacher of truth never has to resort to underhanded measures or lose his composure, for the power is all in the message of truth. The message reproves, rebukes, and is sound.  No loopholes or contradictions are to be found without dishonest tactics.

The nature of the heart is revealed through simple proclamation of truth; it “cuts” both ways. It will either approve or disprove the individual. Sin will be exposed when true preaching is proclaimed. If one loves truth, he will repent and be baptized; if his love (i.e., god) is pleasure in unrighteousness, he will resort to underhanded measures and/or lose his composure in resistance.

The Lord so forewarned of this reaction: “He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reported. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John 3.17-21).

How do we react to God's reproof?

5/2/21

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A ‘TRUE’ GOD—A ‘TRUE’ WORD: BELIEVE IT, OR NOT?

“The one who has accepted His testimony has certified that God is true.” (John 3:33)

The truth in regard to the beginning of life rests upon a testimony. Whenever and however we want to refer to “the beginning,” regardless if we attribute it to evolution or to a supreme intelligence, both possibilities must be accepted by faith. The reason this is so is because no one was present “in the beginning” except God. The Creation record in the Bible was written by Moses, whose own birth occurred several generations after the Creation, according to the Bible. Moses’ record must therefore be accepted by faith.

In regard to the Creation of life, our decision will be a matter of faith, regardless of the object of our faith.  There are two possibilities as to the source of life’s existence and its continuance. Either it is by the process of evolution or by an intelligent, self-existent, eternal Creator. The Creation teems with evidence of a wisdom that supersedes human capability. Design implies a designer. The precision with which the elements function also implies intelligence.

Yet, with all the magnitude of Creation, one thing is absent apart from a testimony. The Creation itself does not provide the answer as to WHY life came into existence. That is the reason for a testimony. Producing something from nothing is as incredible as raising life from death. But in seeking an answer as to WHY life was created, we must place our faith on a testimony. In view of the two possibilities mentioned above, which of the two offers a testimony as to WHY life came into existence?

Does evolution have a record as to WHY life happened? If so, where is it? On the other hand, the Bible record speaks of a purpose from eternity by an eternal being, God. God had reason to declare WHY He created, and only man was intended to know of that reason. Accordingly, God made man capable of understanding not only how he came into existence, but WHY. Herein, he finds the significance of the statement that God was ‘mindful of him’ (Psalm 8:4; Hebrews 2:6). Since all that we know of God’s eternal purpose is from what God Himself has declared, let us consider whether or not His record is credible.

A true God does not speak what is not true nor fail to keep His word. God’s word is true and God is true to His word. What is said of God is also true of God’s word. God is unchanging (Malachi 3:6) and with Him there is no variation (James 1:17). As this relates to His word, God has declared two “immutable” things about Himself: His promises and His oaths (Hebrews 6:18). God must be true to these, else He incriminates Himself. Immutable means “fixed; unalterable”. Herein is our evidence of His trustworthiness. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6). Has God proved Himself credible in this regard? What evidence do we have? Is it not from what is said of those listed in Hebrews 11? Was God credible? How did they respond? With each person(s) the inspired record says, ‘by faith’ they “OBEYED”! Take note of that! Whatever God’s word directed them to do, they did it! This obedience is elsewhere described by a word that has come to be viewed as taboo…‘WORKS’. James 2:14-26 defined the obedience of Abraham and Rahab as “works”. Hebrews 11:6 states, “...the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who SEEK Him.” Genuine faith ‘seeks’ HIM, else it is dead. To seek is to obey ‘HIM”, not venture in uncertainty. Obedience is the only fruit produced by a credible faith. We know that the majority of the nation of Israel died in the wilderness because their faith was not credible, but dead (1 Corinthians 10:5-10; Hebrews 3:16-19; Jude 1:5). Israel did not obey God. Credible belief in God obeys God.

God’s word is clear as to credible belief. God says belief is necessary (Hebrews 11:6). But God also says belief is a work (John 6:27-29). This simply means that belief must be active rather than passive (Re-read Hebrews 11:5 and John 6:27-29). God’s word does not cleanse without applying it any more than soap would cleanse on faith alone (John 15:1-11; Ephesians 5:26). Believing that God’s word cleanses without washing yourself with it is not credible faith.

God’s word (truth) also calls upon us to accept what His word has said about ourselves. God’s word has said we have all sinned (Romans 3:23).

For this reason God’s word also calls upon us to repent of our sins. Is God’s word credible? Do we believe God? Is our belief passive or active? Will repentance occur? Man must adapt to truth; order IS important. The Psalmist wrote, “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18). This means to call upon Him according as truth instructs! (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God’s word makes an appeal to our mind. It speaks to our inward being, which is spirit and in God’s image rather than by an emotional appeal to our flesh. Any change of mind must first be based upon God’s word rather than human emotion. While there will be an emotional effect, it must not precede but follow our understanding of God’s truth. Salvation is based upon faith, rather than feelings. Faith must be in God’s word (Romans 10:17). We will KNOW whether we have been saved because of TRUTH versus relying on an emotional FEELING.  

3/28/2021

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“MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION”

There is no greater decision a person will be called upon to make that supersedes the one they make regarding their spiritual well-being. Religious decisions are difficult because they require great determination. The apostle Paul said, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service. And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

 

Paul’s statement, as he revealed God’s will concerning obedience, says that it requires becoming a sacrifice: a sacrifice that presents the body in a holy and acceptable service. Paul was well aware of the requirements of obedience. He once stated concerning his life, “for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die” (Acts 21:13). Later in his life he wrote, “For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-7). 

Making the right decision about one’s spiritual well-being requires courage. Throughout the scriptures individuals have been called upon to put their lives on the line for their faith: “And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens. Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth. And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:32-40).

As a Christian, an individual must be willing to do the same today. Jesus said, “And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Exercising courage is of such great importance that God said of the fearful, “…their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).

When considering one’s condition before God, one must decide to exercise courage and “obey God, rather than men” (Acts 5:29) and “press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). 

What decision have you made in regard to your spiritual service?

3/14/21
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“LOVE IS THE FOUNDATION”

The Bible reveals that the marriage relationship is from God. He designed it for man’s benefit. The purpose is seen from Genesis 2:18, 22-24 where it is stated, “Then the LORD God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him’. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, ‘This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man’. Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

Yet marriage is not desired by many. If God created the marriage relationship for man’s good, why is this so? Why do we find such abuse within that relationship? Stable marriages make for stable societies. The Bible shows repeatedly that the stability of any society is in direct proportion to the stability of the marriage relationships within that society. In connection with this, we read in Psalms 11:3, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” This is true of any institution. When thinking about our society, our homes, or our government, what can the righteous do if the foundations are destroyed? Has God’s foundation for marriage been destroyed? What is a foundation and what is God’s foundation for marriage?

Foundations consist of those things that give support. Houses are placed upon foundations to give them strength and stability. Relationships must have a good foundation in order to meet hard times. For marriage to be the relationship that provides man the benefit that God intended, it must likewise be built upon a solid foundation. A proper foundation will provide support for those who enter a marriage relationship. God has laid the foundation for the marriage relationship. That foundation is love. Love is also from God, for God loved man first. God made man capable of loving Him and one another. The greatest evidence of love is sacrifice. God’s love for man is seen in the sacrifice of His Son. It provided the greatest benefit known to man. The apostle Paul explained it as follows: “For one will hardly die for a righteous person; though perhaps for the good person someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Romans 5:7-10).

Because of this, we can learn from God how to show our love in the marriage relationship. It will be in the sacrifices made between the husband and his wife. The love that will provide a solid foundation for marriage is seen from the love that Christ had for the church. His sacrifice for the church is seen in Acts 20:28. He gave His life (shed His blood) for the church. It is further illustrated in Ephesians 5:22-33 where we find, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

Such a foundation will make the marriage relationship what God intended it to be. Our happiness in this life is greatly affected by how successful we are in our marriage relationships. However, when this godly foundation is destroyed, what remains? Society suffers when relationships are fostered through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17).

“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” In a society wherein the marriage bond is about as treasured as Esau treasured his birthright, what can those who have respect for God’s view of marriage do? We can exemplify the blessings of our marriages by having the same love for our spouse like as Christ had for man and for the church. We can respect and fulfill our God-given roles in the marriage relationship: “Wives be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord…in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it.” (Ephesians 5:22, 24-25). When we stay within the boundaries prescribed, and build upon God’s foundation, then we will truly have a “marriage made in heaven”.

2/28/21

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“GOD’S TESTIMONY: INCREDIBLE OR CREDIBLE?”

When anything is said to be incredible, it means that it is hard to believe.  Something qualifies as incredible when it is so extraordinary that it seems impossible. For many, the Creation account from the Bible qualifies as incredible. They think it incredible that life could be brought into existence from nothing by a being that has always existed. Yet the Bible declares this very thing in Genesis 1. It is parallel with another statement from the Bible surrounding whether or not this same being (God) could raise the dead back to life. There were many who thought of that as incredible (Acts 26:8).

Life being raised from death or life being created from nothing are both things that can only be accepted by faith. As it pertained to Jesus, He had been in a grave for 3 days. Could it be possible that He raised Himself? Certainly not! How then is it that Luke records of Him, “To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3)? Credible or incredible? No one had ever been known to raise himself. How is it then that Jesus was alive after dying? No one was present in the tomb with Jesus when he arose.

The eye-witness testimony was not that His resurrection was literally witnessed, rather that He was seen alive by them after being buried in a tomb for 3 days. Yet it was still deemed incredible by many, even among those who had initially obeyed the gospel (Acts 13:46; 1 Corinthians 1:2). In this epistle, the apostle Paul asked the Corinthians, “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:12). It certainly required faith to accept the testimony of those who proclaimed His resurrection from death. Paul repeatedly warned Christians in 1 Corinthians 10 not to repeat the faithless behavior of the Israelites.

Hebrews 4:1-2 contains a similar warning: “Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united with those who listened with faith.” The eye-witness testimony of Jesus’ resurrection is made credible because Jesus’ resurrection is credible. Luke testified that it was necessary for Jesus to enter into His glory (Luke 24:26). This is why Jesus’ resurrection is credible. Paul was most explicit in explaining the consequences of viewing the eye-witness testimony of resurrection as incredible rather than credible. He said, “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain. Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ only in this life, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:13-19).

The truth in regard to the beginning of life rests upon a testimony. Whenever and however we want to refer to ‘the beginning’, regardless if we attribute it to evolution or to a Supreme Intelligence, both possibilities must be accepted by faith. The simple reason is, no one was present. The Creation record in the Bible is by Moses whose own birth is recorded and which occurred several generations after another incredible story, the Flood. The Flood of course occurred several generations after the Creation, according to the Bible. Moses’ record must therefore be accepted by faith. This is also true of other writers of the Bible who mention the nature of the Creation. None of them were alive to personally witness what they wrote about. They affirmed that what they wrote was by inspiration of the Spirit of God. Their affirmation must also be accepted by faith. We read in 2 Peter 1:20-21, “…no prophecy of scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” Likewise in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God…”. The prophet Amos acknowledged, “Certainly the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret plan to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7).

This being the case, their divine guidance and testimony must be accepted by faith. These prophets declared what God wanted to be known, not only about Himself, but about why He brought things into existence. The church of Christ in Thessalonica demonstrated the attitude that we should have toward the testimony of God’s messengers. Paul wrote to them these words: “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

2/21/21

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"THE LOVE OF GOD IS GREATER FAR..."

Notice how God showed His love for Israel and what His love accomplished within the nation:

Psalm 78:

12 He performed wonders before their fathers in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, and He made the waters stand up like a heap.

14 Then He led them with the cloud by day

and all the night with a light of fire.

15 He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them plenty to drink like the ocean depths.

16 He brought forth streams from the rock and made waters run down like rivers.

17 Yet they still continued to sin against Him, to rebel against the Most High in the desert.

18 And in their heart they put God to the test by asking for food that suited their taste.

19 Then they spoke against God; they said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

20 Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, and streams were overflowing; Can He also provide bread? Will He prepare meat for His people?”

21 Therefore the Lord heard and was full of wrath; and a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also mounted against Israel,

22 Because they did not believe in God and did not trust in His salvation.

23 Yet He commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of heaven;

24 He rained down manna upon them to eat, and gave them food from heaven.

25 Man ate the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance.

26 He made the east wind blow in the sky and by His power He directed the south wind.

27 When He rained meat upon them like the dust, even winged fowl like the sand of the seas,

28 He let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings.

29 So they ate and were well filled, and He satisfied their longing.

30 Yet before they had abandoned their longing, while their food was in their mouths,

31 The anger of God rose against them and killed some of their strongest ones, and subdued the choice men of Israel.

32 In spite of all this they still sinned and did not believe in His wonderful works.

33 So He brought their days to an end in futility, and their years to an end in sudden terror.

34 WHEN HE KILLED THEM, THEN THEY SOUGHT HIM, AND THEY RETURNED AND SEARCHED DILIGENTLY FOR GOD;

35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer.

2/13/21

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