Faith vs. Reality

In Exodus 16, the Israelites had been walking in the wilderness for about a month after their exodus from Egypt. They might have run out of food, since Exodus 12:39 mentions that they left in haste and packed hurriedly. Some of them might even have died of hunger (possibly in extreme cases). Now there was a choice to make: keep moving or die in the desert. Then they complained to Moses about their problem. They even wished that God had killed them in Egypt (Exodus 16:3). Sometimes we feel the same. Not seeing a concrete work of God in our situations, we may despair and even complain to God about how unfair He has been to us. Some of us might even have prayed for God to kill us.

But it is a choice whether we act in response to reality or in accordance with faith. Moses might also have run out of his supplies. Yet he decided to trust God and His promises throughout the journey. He was not troubled by the hardships of the wilderness because his heart was fixed upon God, His wonders, and His promises.

When we do not see the promises of God in His word fulfilled in our lives, we may be tempted to complain and grumble against God. I myself have challenged God several times to show Himself in my situations, and I have been angry with Him at times in the past. But this did not change my situation. In these days, I have realized that we have two options:

• Complain to God about reality
• Keep believing in the promises and faithfulness of God

Each individual gets to choose what he or she will do.

It was logical for the Israelites to complain to their leaders, Moses and Aaron. However, there was another, more dangerous reason behind their complaining: a lack of faith. Their hearts were fixed upon the needs and things of the earth. They did not desire to live in fellowship with God, as Moses did. They got each of their desires fulfilled, but at the cost of a relationship with their LORD. What benefit is it when we get everything except a relationship with God? Ultimately, they could not enter the land of promise (Hebrews 3:19). We are easily distracted by the cares of life if we are satisfied living on the fringes of the presence/glory of God.

We are easily distracted by the cares of life if we are satisfied living on the fringes of the presence/glory of God.

Jesus Himself is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Each one of us has the promises and will of God for our lives. We may not receive a call as Moses did, but we can still have the relationship that Moses had with God. From the lives of the heroes of faith in the Bible, we understand that great faith is persevering faith. They persevered long enough to see the promise of God fulfilled in their lives. We, too, need to stand patiently in our faith so that we may fulfill the will of God and receive His promises (Hebrews 10:36). But how do we do that?

Great faith is persevering faith.

The more we listen to the rhema word of Christ, the stronger we become in faith (Romans 10:17). So how can we listen to the rhema word of Christ? The more time we spend with Him personally, the more we wait silently in His presence and meditate on His word, the more we know Him (Psalm 46:10).

It may seem logical to become frustrated with God over the perils we may be going through. But it takes faith to stand on the promises of God irrespective of reality. Will you choose the path of faith with perseverance, or question God with your logic?