The LORD Heard and was Wroth - Psalms 78:21

In Psalms chapter seventy-eight Asaph shared how the people of Israel in the wilderness, “tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. Yes, they spoke against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?”, and in chapter seventy-eight and verse twenty-one of Psalms Asaph shared how Moses, “the LORD heard this, and was wroth” where we read,

Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth:

so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;

The verse begins, “Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth:” Asaph began with the words, “therefore the LORD” or “wherefore, thus and hitherto Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “heard this” which means “listened to, perceived and understood the people of Israel's desire”, “and was wroth” or “and existed as angry and furious”. Asaph said Jehovah God listened to the complaints and doubt of the people of Israel about their food and water and became furious with them.

The verse continues, “so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;” Asaph added the words, “so a fire was kindled” or “therefore a fiery flame and burning fire was burned” “against Jacob” which means “in opposition to Jacob whose name means heel-holder or supplanter and was the son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the twelve patriarchs of the tribes of Israel”, “and anger also came up” or “and even so and indeed ire, forbearing and a wrath that wrinkled the nose arose, ascended, climbed and was brought up” “against Israel” which means “in opposition to Israel whose name means God prevails and was the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”. Asaph said Jehovah God's ire burned in opposition to the people of Israel as His fury arose in opposition to Israel.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how Jehovah God responded with fury and ire against the complaints of the people of Jacob and Israel. When people complain against God, they assume that they know better for themselves than He does. They are wrong. God loves everyone, knows everyone and is able to provide for everyone according to His purposes and plans. He knew people were separated from a personal relationship with Him because of their sins, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of every person. When we surrender our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us through His Holy Spirit how to depend upon Him and trust Him when provisions are not provided according to His ways but ours.

Next time Asaph shares how the people, “believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".