© Matthew Tuel — 2025
Exodus 17:1 (NET, 2nd Ed.)
1 The whole community of the Israelites traveled on their journey from the Desert of Sin according to the LORD’s instruction, and they pitched camp in Rephidim. Now there was no water for the people to drink.
Psalm 78:12-22 (NET, 2nd Ed.)
12 He did amazing things in the sight of their ancestors,
in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.
13 He divided the sea and led them across it;
he made the water stand in a heap.
14 He led them with a cloud by day,
and with the light of a fire all night long.
15 He broke open rocks in the wilderness,
and gave them enough water to fill the depths of the sea.
16 He caused streams to flow from the rock,
and made the water flow like rivers.
17 Yet they continued to sin against him,
and rebelled against the sovereign One in the desert.
18 They willfully challenged God
by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.
19 They insulted God, saying,
“Is God really able to give us food in the wilderness?
20 Yes, he struck a rock and water flowed out,
streams gushed forth.
But can he also give us food?
Will he provide meat for his people?”
21 When the LORD heard this, he was furious.
A fire broke out against Jacob,
and his anger flared up against Israel,
22 because they did not have faith in God,
and did not trust his ability to deliver them.
Isaiah 28:20 (NET, 2nd Ed.)
20 For the bed is too short to stretch out on,
and the blanket is too narrow to wrap around oneself.
Hebrews 4:3-10 (NET, 2nd Ed.)
3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my anger, ‘They will never enter my rest!’ ” And yet God’s works were accomplished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works,” 5 but to repeat the text cited earlier: “They will never enter my rest!” 6 Therefore it remains for some to enter it, yet those to whom it was previously proclaimed did not enter because of disobedience. 7 So God again ordains a certain day, “Today,” speaking through David after so long a time, as in the words quoted before, “O, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken afterward about another day. 9 Consequently a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God. 10 For the one who enters God’s rest has also rested from his works, just as God did from his own works.
Calvin talks about trusting in God, and not testing him. Spurgeon talks about believing in the sufficiency of God. Both of these go hand in hand.
Matthew 6:27 (NET, 2nd ed.) reads "And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?" Worrying is counterproductive in that it only increases our anxiousness about life. Trusting in the Lord instead of leaning on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5) is what brings about the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7.)
Do we trust in the Lord with all our heart? Do we seek peace? Or are we content to wallow in our own self-pity and wrap ourselves in the blanket of worry that is always too short to comfort us, and too thin to keep us warm?