SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 9
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“’O unbelieving and perverse generation,’ Jesus replied, ‘how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.’” [Matthew 17:17] Jesus is frustrated with His disciples because they did not have the faith to help this boy. Keep in mind that they had already been used by God to help other demon-possessed people. For some reason, they were forgetting what they had been taught and experienced. They were doubting themselves, or God, or both.
In Deuteronomy 9 Moses reminds the people that it was not because of their faith or obedience that God would help them conquer their enemies – in fact, they were a stubborn people. He reminds them of history, of the many times they doubted God, resisted Him, grumbled against Him, disobeyed Him. We can imagine God and Moses both saying what Jesus said, “’O unbelieving and perverse generation,’ Jesus replied, ‘how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?”.
There are two important lessons in this: (1) We are no better (or worse) than others, we all need God’s love, patience and forgiveness. We all fall short, we all have seasons of doubt and stubbornness. (2) God’s people are not loved because they are so great, but because God’s love is so great. In fact, God prefers to work with the weak and slow and needy to make the point that success with Him depends on His worth, not ours.
I am fairly certain that the Lord sadly shakes His head at me and says what He said about the disciples: “how long shall I put up with you?” How many times do I slip back into old patterns, give in to fear and doubt, question God’s love or power. When I consider my weakness, I do not allow myself to get stuck there. I need to look beyond these to His love, strength, grace and mercy. I need to be honest about myself, and hopeful about Him.
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbour his anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. [Psalm 103:8-14]
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for both humbling and encouraging me, help me to be both honest and hopeful. Your patience is amazing!