I cared for you in the wilderness,
Hosea 13:5-6 (NIV)
in the land of burning heat.
When I fed them, they were satisfied;
when they were satisfied, they became proud;
then they forgot me.
God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt and led them out into the wilderness. For forty years, they wandered, and God cared for them, meeting all their needs. And God brought them into the land of Canaan and enabled them to establish a homeland there. God satisfied their every need.
But what happened when they were satisfied? God accused them of becoming proud and forgetting Him. This theme is continued in the book of Judges. Because of their rebellion, God allowed them to be oppressed. They would cry out for deliverance, and God would raise up a judge to deliver them. But once they were secure, they turned away from God again, and the cycle repeated itself.
It would be tempting to think that we know better today. As Christians, surely we do not forget God when He satisfies our needs. But is that truly the case?
How often, when life is unsettled or troubled, do I seek God’s help and provision? When I feel overwhelmed, I turn to Him. But what happens when that time of trouble is over? Do I still cling to Him? Or am I guilty of forgetting God when my life is good?
When my life is trouble-free, when I am satisfied, it is easy to fall into the trap of pride, to assume that I am capable of handling my own affairs. I don’t need any help; I can do it all by myself. And I can easily forget God, leaving Him out of my day-to-day affairs.
Until the next disaster strikes and I once again cry out for His help. How much better it would be if we would learn to always trust Him rather than our own abilities.
