The Israelites were suffering from a kind of “redemptive amnesia.” They forgot the way God provided for them in the past. Their circumstances merited a response from them just as they do for us today.
I. Physical Deprivation (vv. 22-23): Humble Yourself
In times of physical deprivation, we must humble ourselves.
Knowing: The most obvious form of healing we need from God right now is physical. The psalmist says God “remembers we are but dust,” meaning he has compassion on us because he made us like the rest of creation to be entirely dependent on him (Ps. 104).
Being: Often it is only when one of those lifelines is threatened or cut off and we have no ability to repair it ourselves that we turn to the Lord. And our attitude tends to be like Israel’s, “Why are you doing this to me?” “If you are good, why are you allowing this to happen?” Have you found yourself asking questions similar to these recently?
Doing: This crisis must humble us so we will look up to the Lord for healing for our physical needs. Let us humble ourselves before the Lord by first looking back at the history of our lives and conclude God has always provided for us.
II. Spiritual Ingratitude (vv. 23-25): Pray
In times of spiritual ingratitude, we must pray.
Knowing: Whenever the Israelites encountered hardship, their default was not to reflect on everything their heavenly Father had generously provided in the past. Their default was almost always to assume the worst about their leaders and ultimately doubt the goodness of God.
Being: In our pride, sometimes we can assume the highest good in life is our comfort and satisfaction. And the moment anything disappoints us, we ask, “How could God allow this to happen to me!” The question we should ask is, “Given my neglect of Jesus, why has God allowed my life to go so well for so long? Given my sin nature and the universal rebellion of humankind, why does God allow any pleasure in the world?”
Doing: In times of hardship, the Israelites didn’t look back to God’s past provision, they only looked at their present circumstances. What are some specific examples of God’s provision for you in the past? Pray and thank him and ask him to bring these to mind in the future.
III. Volitional Rebellion (vv. 26-27): Turn from Wicked Ways
In times of volitional rebellion, we must turn from our wicked ways.
Knowing: The final verses clarify that healing their wills was God’s purpose for “showing” or teaching the people to follow him as Moses did. If they lived in conscious dependence on the Lord’s word, they would be like Moses who was like a tree planted by streams of water that gave forth its healing fruit at the right time (Ps. 1).
Being: The Israelites needed what we need, not only physical healing and spiritual healing, but volitional healing. We need our wills, our hearts, changed so we will obey God instinctively, not just when he threatens us. Their next destination certainly proves the kind of redeeming God we have. The Lord led them to Elim with twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. We shouldn’t allegorize these numbers. The emphasis is on its extravagant abundance. This is Yahweh-Rophe being Rophe, the Healer.
Doing: Jesus personified this prodigal grace when he stood up in Jerusalem among those rebellious Jewish religious leaders who were trying to arrest him and cried, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (Jn. 7:37-38). How can you practically go to Christ for fulfillment this week, allowing his abundant provision for you to compel you to turn from ingratitude?