To me, this passage is astounding and revelatory. It allows us a peak into the spiritual state of the people of Israel in these times. It answers so many questions as to how the people who saw such miraculous signs could be so quick to doubt and abandon God.
I recently listened to the Unbelievable podcast episode, “Another worship leader loses his faith. What's going on?” It featured Jon Steingard from Hawk Nelson and the apologist Sean McDowell (son of Josh McDowell). It was a loving and honest dialogue. Yet, like the conversation between McDowell and Ryan Bell or Bart Campolo, or YouTubers Rhett and Link’s spiritual deconstruction, or former pastor Josh Harris renouncing his faith, there is a spiritual reality that is not being addressed.
“Let us beware lest we in our pride accept the erroneous notion that idolatry consists only in kneeling before visible objects of adoration, and that civilized peoples are therefore free from it. The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It beings in the mind and may be present where no overt act of worship has taken place.” –A.W. Tozer
We should not be surprised or shaken when supposed disciples abandon Christ. Every generation has had professors who forsook the faith, including individuals that literally trailed behind Jesus while he bodily walked upon this earth (see John 6:66). Remember, Jesus came with a sword to divide humanity (Mat 10:34). And He is the Light of mankind (John 1:4) that shines upon a dark world, sending all those that love the darkness fleeing for the shadows (John 3:19-21).
Thus, a crisis of faith comes for good reason. For if we find our foundation unstable, we are not standing on the Rock (Deu 32:31).
When I go to the beach, I can call the sand beneath my feet “rock.” But when the waves wash over it, the lie will be exposed. So if you enter a situation where your faith is unsettled, then consider that the god you have labeled “Christ” is not the immovable Creator (Heb 13:8), but a powerless idol that exists only in the mind. You may call it “LORD,” and may declare it “God,” (Exo 32:4-5; 1Ki 12:28) and may even find worship proceeding from your lips and miracles from your fingertips—but this does not mean you are in relationship with Jesus (Mat 7:21-23). God can use a donkey (Num 22:28) and a lying prophet (1Ki 13:21-22) to speak prophetic truth; and He can use rags (Acts 19:12), shadows (Acts 5:15), and dead bones (2Ki 13:21) to do astounding things.
The true God never needs propping up or to be carried—only idols are so powerless (1Sa 5:3-4; Isa 45:20). If what you call “Christ” seems to be deaf to your prayers, blind to your situations, and unable to extend a helping hand in trouble, you have bowed down to a golden calf with a Jesus mask. No wonder it is lacking when compared to the pleasures of this world, or juxtaposed aside the overwhelming evil around us. Only THE LORD is so awesome and incomparable (Eph 1:19; Isa 46:5-11). So if what we are beholding doesn’t astound us, it is a worthless idol and should be discarded.
“Examine me, O God, and probe my thoughts.
Test me, and know my concerns.
See if there is any idolatrous way in me,
and lead me in the everlasting way.”
–Psalm 139:23-24, NET
So let us “unravel the sweater” that is covering any effigy of stone, and not forfeit the mercy that could be ours (Jonah 2:8). Let us allow the misguided answers we have heard and confusing contradictions that we have seen expose the idolatrous lies in our hearts (Psa 139:24). May we plead to see God’s astounding glory (Exo 33:18) as we reverently seek to draw nearer to this magnificent God—even when He is obscured (Exo 20:21).
“Yes, I know the Lord is great,
and our Lord is superior to all gods.
He does whatever he pleases
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all the ocean depths.”
–Psalm 135:5-6, NET
The true God is too magnificent for human eyes to behold (Exo 33:20). We can only catch a glimpse of His back if we stand in the protective Rock (Exo 33:21-22; John 14:6-10). Thus, the best we can do is liken His powerful voice to a thunderous river, His face to the sun, and His eyes to blazing fire (Rev 1:14-16). His magnificence is so marvelous that everything in this world becomes meaningless without Him (Ecc 1:2). His excellence is so extravagant that eternity will not be enough to exhaust his endless wisdom (Isa 40:28). His worth is so wonderful that He must be put before all things, even at their expense (Mat 10:37-38; 13:44-46; Luke 14:26-33). The knowledge of Him is so staggering, that any and all things are easily discarded (Phi 3:8). His appearance is so amazing that the worst of our sufferings are not fit to be compared (Rom 8:18). All sin, suffering, and death are swallowed up in the life He gives (1Co 15:54-55).
If the true revelation of God is our foundation—we can never be shaken or moved (Psa 55:22).
“I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye has seen you.
Therefore I despise myself,
and I repent in dust and ashes!”
–Job 42:5-6, NET
“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.”
– Edward Mote, “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”
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