HEBREWS 3:9
“WHERE YOUR FATHERS PUT ME TO THE TEST, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS.”
You may have heard it said or said it yourself, “If I had seen the miracles God did in the wilderness, I would have never doubted.” Don’t come to that conclusion too quickly. How many miracles has He done in your life that you never even recognized? How many times has God come to your rescue for you only to go your own way right afterwards? Don’t judge the Hebrew children too harshly.
Depending on how you count the miracles or signs which God did during those 40 years, there are anywhere from 5 to 19 distinct events. Let’s look at the first one – parting of the Red Sea. They were even grumbling before God did this. I wonder how many of them bit their tongue as they walked through on dry ground only to see Pharoah’s army swept away by the returning water. Then there’s the manna and the quail and the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day. Time and time again He showed up and showed out on their behalf only to see them test Him once again.
ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)
We have an Application to make in this verse today. We need to look around us and give praise for all He has done for us. God has sustained me through a few harrowing health experiences, one very recently. I have learned to thank Him for His interventions. I do not take them for granted. I never want to be accused of putting God “to the test.”
The Greek words used here for “put to the test” are interesting. The literal Greek reads, “where the Fathers of you tried (Me) by testing. The writer uses both dokimḗ, “a brand of what is ‘tested and true’” (HELPS Word-studies) and peirázō which can be either a positive or negative trial or test. In other words, their fathers really tested God. God even told Moses to back up because He was going to wipe them out after they refused to hear Joshua and Caleb’s report about the Promised Land. Instead, He led them into the wilderness where they wandered for 40 years.
I do believe we can ask God difficult questions. I know I have. God isn’t offended by our questions or even our lack of faith at times. However, He does expect us to obey. Have you ever done anything you didn’t want to do because you knew God said do it? Boy, I sure have. In the end I was grateful I obeyed. Don’t allow your lack of faith push you towards rebellion. Allow the difficult things to grow your faith. God may test and try you but let that be because He wants to make you more like Him. Don’t blame God for the consequences of your rebellion. That is totally on you, not Him. Amen?
Father, don’t let become a grumbler and complainer about the things You allow into my life. I trust Your Master plan even though I do not know how it will turn out.
