This passage in the Psalms is reciting Israel's history recorded in Numbers 16 and Exodus 32. In Exodus, the Israelites approach Aaron while Moses is receiving God's word up on Mt. Sinai and say to Aaron "come, make us gods who will go before us." Later in Numbers, some Israelites rise up against Moses saying "isn't it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you want to lord it over us?"
These episodes capture our hearts just as much as they teach us about the Israelites. The key issue, whether it is envy or idolatry or any other sin, is a rejection of Glory in exchange for other things. Every time we put something before God, we will tend to a life of questioning God's goodness, doubting His plan or looking to provide for ourselves. It may be our health, our money, our families, our stuff or any other number of idols we create for ourselves - we look to our own hands to fulfill us and ignore the gaping whole in our hearts, which only God can fill.
This begs the question, what is real? When we turn to material possessions, efforts to control our own lives, pursuing our will above His, we often are convinced that what we see and what we feel is real. We think that having life going according to our plan proves we are in control. We think that when our bank accounts are healthy, we can meet our needs on our own.
But think about your breath right now. Can you guarantee your next one? Do you truly know what will tomorrow will bring? If lightning were to strike right now, could you lift your hand to stop it? Do you know you are truly healthy - free of cancer or illness or failing systems? Can you really control a single element of your life? The writer of Proverbs says "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth." (Prov. 27:1)
And what about how you feel - do you truly control how you feel? How many times have you felt a sudden surge of anger or envy or jealousy? Did you want to feel that way?
Paul writes in Romans 7:18b -19 "For I have the desire to do what it's good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do, this I keep doing." And later he writes "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
Jesus does not want us living in fear, when we start to realize that we are not in control. Rather, He wants us to trust Him. Jesus says "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" But His point is not to despair, but rather rejoice. He says "So do not worry saying, 'What shall we eat?' Or 'What shall we drink?' Or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt 7:31-34)
What is real? God has a plan of good provision for us, that is being accomplished in us and through us, even when we don't understand. When He called Moses, Moses tried numerous times to get out of it. Moses wasn't looking for his own acclaim and yet those people called to follow him were envious of his call. While the Israelites had seen His glory displayed in countless ways, God ways were harder to understand and follow. It was easier to look to something they could create, control and even melt down again, than to trust a God who could part the sea or swallow people into the earth.
The real living God is bigger than we want to admit and makes us feel small. But in Him is the only true comfort and rest that will give us peace. In Him is the only fulfillment that will make us whole. Trust Him and find real peace and rest. He wants to give us good gifts - lets open our hands to receive it.
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