So Very Quick to Doubt

Scripture:
Our ancestors in Egypt did not grasp
the significance of your wondrous works
or remember your many acts of faithful love;
instead, they rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea.
Psalm 106:7

Observation: The author of this psalm is referring to the fear and doubt of the Israelites when they were trapped by the Red Sea. They cried out they had been brought out to simply be slaughtered by Pharaoh. This was very literally days - maybe just three days - after the Passover, a night on which the Lord supernaturally killed every firstborn animal in all of Egypt in order to secure Israel's freedom. Passover was only the last of 10 miracles performed in rapid succession, ranging from extraordinarily rare (massive infestation of frogs) to supernatural (fiery hail).

With all that amazing power in their immediate minds, and the understanding it all occurred to rescue them, all Israel believes they are now doomed, and they 'rebel' ... they reject faith in exchange for fear.

The cause of this rebellion is stated. It was an inability to "grasp the significance of your wonderous works" and also "remember your many acts of faithful love". The rejection of faith in the Lord then begins with these two failures:

-- Not understanding the Lord's works

-- Not remembering the Lord's love that drove those works

With those two failings, abandonment of faith - and resulting fear - is nearly immediate.

Application: I like to think I both see and know the wonders of the Lord all around me, and recognize the love of the Lord that created and caused those works. I am sure I am wrong ... that I fail to understand and remember the Lord's loving works properly, fully, and timely. I only need to evaluate the times I am afraid to know that I have entered the final part of this chain, and that I am now living in a place where I have lost my faith because I have lost my memory of, and connection to, God's loving works.

Doubt is certain the source of fear, and as a human I expect I can be as quick to doubt as anyone else. This should not be. The Lord does so much for me every day, from simple provisions in my daily living, to rescuing me from all kinds of destruction in my life. As I remember these things, and recognize them moment by moment and day by day, it stands that my faith would remain strong. With faith, I cannot fear.

Prayer: Lord, may I be slow to doubt, and quick to remember your love and your work in my life. And may others around me do the same, so they are not afraid. Amen.