“Open your mouth and close your eyes, and you will get a big surprise.”
My son doesn’t fall for it. He is not about to let any unknown object enter his mouth. He has to examine it, frown at it, sniff it, and declare he’s not going to like it.
“Just try it,” I coax. “It’s not going to kill you. Look, I’ll take a bite first.”
He doesn’t budge.
“Coward,” I say.
He still refuses. It does not matter that I’ve stated this is candy. He does not recognize it as such, because it is homemade. It does not look like the candy we buy at the store.
There’s a passage in the Bible similar to this little story. It goes like this:
“This is a decree for Israel… I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” (Ps. 81:10)
How did the people of Israel’s response to this request? Did they act like my son?
God said, “… My people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.” (v. 11)
What happened then? My son’s refusal to try a candy is a trivial matter, but Israel’s refusal of God was not. God said:
“If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!” (v. 12)
But Israel’s stubborn standoff meant they remained easy prey. Victory, peace, and blessings were delayed. War and heartache continued.
How often are we like Israel? Do we miss out on seeing God at work in our lives because we stubbornly refuse to trust Him?
“You would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you,“ coaxed the God who rescued Israel. He proved Himself faithful, and He still responds to everyone who cries out to Him for help. Will we trust him?
Viva Editing 