What we Lose When we Limit God

Daily Devotional – Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
Psalms 78:41 (NKJV)

In Psalms 78, Asaph contrasts the rebelliousness of the Israelites against the goodness of God. The Psalmists recounts God’s saving work on behalf of the Israelites during their rescue from Egypt and their sojourn in the wilderness. He remarks, “They refused to walk in His law, and forgot His works, and His wonders that He had shown them.” (Verses 10-11).

They sinned even more against Most High

In verses 12-18, Asaph recounts how God parted the Red Sea to create an escape route for His children. He remembers the pillar of fire and the cloud that provided favourable weather for the desert sojourners. God had also performed miracles such as causing water to come from a rock. Despite these manifestations of godly love, “…they sinned even more against Him by rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness.” (Verse 17).

The children of Jacob made God even more furious by demanding for the food they used to eat in Egypt, while threatening to go back to captivity. Even after eating Manna (angels’ food), they craved for meat. God provided them with quail meat which they ate with relish. Many of them died while eating the meat. However, “In spite of this they still sinned, and did not believe in His wondrous works.” (Verse 32).

How did God react to their rebelliousness?

“But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath. For He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again.” (Verse 39).

God was always ready to forgive them when they turned to him with repentant hearts. Even when they rebelled severally, He wooed them back. This pattern, though, had a grave consequence. Asaph notes, “Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.” (Verse 41).

Are You Limiting God?

Limiting God meant they Israelites did not enjoy the full benefits of being God’s children. Had they been obedient and practised faith in Him, God would have performed many more wonders on their behalf. They would not have spend forty years in the wilderness. Their sin limited God’s Hand from helping them fully. Jesus’ fellow villagers did the same mistake. They doubted Jesus. Consequently, “…He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:58).

When we lack faith in God and persist in sin, we limit the Hand of God. While He can intervene countless times on our behalf and make our lives productive and enjoyable, He watches, waiting for us to turn back to Him. Are you limiting God in your life? How big are your dreams? Do you believe God can give you what you ask for if it is in tandem with His will? Stop limiting God.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, forgive me for limiting You. I commit my plans fully to You because I know You are able to do far more abundantly than all I ask or think.