Pondering Unbelief
Unbelief. Our Community Bible Study lesson this week has set me to pondering the different facets of unbelief. It is so much more than not believing there is a God; it is so much more than believing the need of purification from sin by the blood of Christ. So much more.
In Numbers 20: 10-13, Moses failed to speak to the rock to bring forth water, as the Lord had commanded him. Instead he spoke to the people saying, “Shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” And then he struck the rock twice with his staff. God was gracious in His love and provision for His people. He still miraculously caused the water to gush out, enough water for the huge congregation of Israel and their livestock!
God’s response to Moses’ action, a response that included Aaron, was not what you would expect:
Moses, who spoke face to face with God. Moses who had done so many things “as the Lord commanded”. Moses, who definitely believed there is a God because he had intimate knowledge of Him. This Moses was told he did not believe in God and that his unbelief meant he had defamed the holiness of the Lord God.
When we question God’s ways, God’s laws, God’s Word, we are not believing Him, we are not demonstrating His holiness to those around us. When we ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are disbelieving God, we are marring His holiness. Disobedience is equated with unbelief! If God is holy, He must be believed because holiness is perfection and His words, His ways are absolutely trustworthy.
Did you know that God considers an unbelieving heart to be evil? I know I’ve read this verse in Hebrews many times before but never really absorbed what it said.
Wow! The evil of disbelief opens us up to the deceitfulness of sin because our hearts become hardened. We live in a culture that is quick to try to deceive us regarding sin. Rationalize, justify, call God’s laws antiquated, unfit for today’s culture. But shouldn’t the One who created us know what is best for us?
These verses make me aware once again of just how easy it is to be deceived! We must know God and know His ways and what He expects of us. Knowing Him should lead us to thankfulness—more than that—to hearts full of praise for who God is and what He has done for us.
Can we stand in awe of our God, of the redemption He has provided for us through Jesus Christ? Yes, this verse is written before Christ became man, before He shed His blood for us on the cross of Calvary, before He rose again to sit at the right hand of God and intercede for us—but its truth is eternal. We who have accepted this offer of redemption under the New Covenant are His people forever. I am so often overwhelmed with the fact that the Creator God, the One who created more than our eyes can see or our minds can comprehend, loves me and has provided redemption for me! How can I not bow in humility and awe and gratitude?
So when we do not fear the Lord, when we are unwilling to follow His precepts, we are exhibiting evil unbelief that could lead us astray and make us susceptible to the deceitfulness of sin. Additionally, we are not displaying His holiness when we willfully disobey. Oh, how I pray that I will be more concerned with God’s holiness, with His glory and honor, than I am for my own desires no matter how well-intended those desires may be!
In Numbers 20: 10-13, Moses failed to speak to the rock to bring forth water, as the Lord had commanded him. Instead he spoke to the people saying, “Shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” And then he struck the rock twice with his staff. God was gracious in His love and provision for His people. He still miraculously caused the water to gush out, enough water for the huge congregation of Israel and their livestock!
God’s response to Moses’ action, a response that included Aaron, was not what you would expect:
“Because you did not believe in me,
to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel,
therefore you shall not bring this assembly
into the land that I have given them.”
Numbers 20:12 ESV
Moses, who spoke face to face with God. Moses who had done so many things “as the Lord commanded”. Moses, who definitely believed there is a God because he had intimate knowledge of Him. This Moses was told he did not believe in God and that his unbelief meant he had defamed the holiness of the Lord God.
When we question God’s ways, God’s laws, God’s Word, we are not believing Him, we are not demonstrating His holiness to those around us. When we ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are disbelieving God, we are marring His holiness. Disobedience is equated with unbelief! If God is holy, He must be believed because holiness is perfection and His words, His ways are absolutely trustworthy.
“The works of his hands are faithful and just,
all his precepts are trustworthy.
They are steadfast forever and ever,
done in faithfulness and uprightness.”
Psalm 111: 7, 8 NIV
Did you know that God considers an unbelieving heart to be evil? I know I’ve read this verse in Hebrews many times before but never really absorbed what it said.
“Take care, brothers,
lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart,
leading you to fall away from the living God.
But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’
that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
Hebrews 3:12, 13
Wow! The evil of disbelief opens us up to the deceitfulness of sin because our hearts become hardened. We live in a culture that is quick to try to deceive us regarding sin. Rationalize, justify, call God’s laws antiquated, unfit for today’s culture. But shouldn’t the One who created us know what is best for us?
These verses make me aware once again of just how easy it is to be deceived! We must know God and know His ways and what He expects of us. Knowing Him should lead us to thankfulness—more than that—to hearts full of praise for who God is and what He has done for us.
“He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.”
Psalm 111: 9 NIV
Can we stand in awe of our God, of the redemption He has provided for us through Jesus Christ? Yes, this verse is written before Christ became man, before He shed His blood for us on the cross of Calvary, before He rose again to sit at the right hand of God and intercede for us—but its truth is eternal. We who have accepted this offer of redemption under the New Covenant are His people forever. I am so often overwhelmed with the fact that the Creator God, the One who created more than our eyes can see or our minds can comprehend, loves me and has provided redemption for me! How can I not bow in humility and awe and gratitude?
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.”
Psalm 11:10 NIV
So when we do not fear the Lord, when we are unwilling to follow His precepts, we are exhibiting evil unbelief that could lead us astray and make us susceptible to the deceitfulness of sin. Additionally, we are not displaying His holiness when we willfully disobey. Oh, how I pray that I will be more concerned with God’s holiness, with His glory and honor, than I am for my own desires no matter how well-intended those desires may be!
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