From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley)

Are you longing for more miracles or more God? Well, if you think having more miracles in your life will make you closer to God—think again!

Just look at all the miracles set before the Israelites: their release from Egypt; the manna in the desert; water from rocks, shoes that lasted 40 years, and oh, so many more! And what was their response…a deepening relationship with God and an attitude of gratitude? Yeah, right!

They consistently distrusted God, and in their impatience, even built statues of pagan gods to worship while waiting upon the true God. They consistently whined and complained bitterly to Moses; even going as far as to say it would have been better for them to be back in the hell hole from which they had just been rescued!

God’s not stupid. He did a ton of miracles previously, as we have seen throughout the Old and New Testaments. And I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but He’s not doing that same boatload of miracles today. Any seas parted lately? I think it’s because God proved His point a long time ago as it seems that “a miracle a day, often makes you stray!”

Because of our broken nature, when miracles abound, we seem to get addicted to the miracles or worse yet, to the human vessel through whom the miracles flow. Nope—God wants you longing for Him and not what He can do for you.

Don’t be like the Israelites who went on and on in their complaints. They complained that God was unfair because they were slaves—so He freed them; the Israelites complained that God was silent so He spoke to them; the Israelites complained that He was hidden so He appeared to them; and what was the result? Did they fall on their faces in adoration? Nope again. They screamed that they would die, that they were lost and, even worse, they said they didn’t want to hear the voice of the Lord or see His face for they would die! Real confidence builder those miracles were, huh!

Trust God, my friend. He knows exactly when to break His silence; He cannot be unfair for He is perfectly just; and He knows exactly when and how to reveal Himself to you. Let Him be your God; and whether you get a miracle handed to you or not, He has proven His love for you and He is worthy to be praised! Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold!

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