It is a great joy to be in the house of the Lord with all of you today. I am so happy to see familiar faces and look forward to getting to know others during our time of fellowship. There is a beautiful sense of family in this sanctuary—the presence of children of God spending time together.
Today, we are meditating on two opposing forces we all face: God’s faithfulness and man’s unbelief.
The Danger of "Little Faith"
In Matthew 8, we find the disciples in a boat when a violent storm arises. Despite having just witnessed Jesus heal a leper, a centurion’s servant, and Peter’s mother-in-law, the disciples panicked. They woke Jesus, saying, "Lord, save us; we are perishing!".
Jesus’ response is sobering. He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" (Matthew 8:26, NASB 1995). He then rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. We often focus on the miracle, but as children of God, we should be disturbed that Jesus was unhappy with their lack of faith. After a whole day of seeing His power, their first response to trouble was to doubt His care.
Three Stops in the Wilderness of Unbelief
As we journey toward the "promised land" of our faith, we often hit stops where unbelief tries to take root. Deuteronomy 9:22 mentions three places where the Lord’s anger burned because of this struggle:
Massah: Testing God’s Presence. At Massah, the Israelites questioned, "Is the Lord among us, or not?". They had seen Egypt’s army destroyed, yet they still asked if God had abandoned them. It is like a 21-year-old child asking a parent if they are being abandoned at college after years of provision—it shows a broken relationship rather than just a lack of knowledge.
Taberah: Doubting God’s Provision in Suffering. Suffering is the quickest path to unbelief because we feel forsaken. When crises hit, we must ask: "What does this reveal about God?". We must take time for meditation to ask how faithful God has been in the past so that our faith is stirred for the next hardship.
Kibroth-hattaavah: Doubting the Fatherhood of God. Here, the people yielded to their cravings for meat, forgetting that God had provided for them before. When we give in to anxiety, we act like orphans rather than children who have a Father in heaven who knows our needs.
The True Nature of the Battle
In the days of Malachi, the people began to believe that God didn't love them or that He wasn't just. They rejected His very identity. Jesus came into that silence to prove that God does love you and cares for your smallest thoughts. He loves you so much that He died for you.
Jesus warned us to watch out for the "leaven" of the Pharisees—which is unbelief. He never told us to run from sinners, because sin has a solution: bring them to Jesus for healing. But unbelief is fatal. It has the power to tell someone there is no hope or that they have messed up too badly for God to care.
A Call to Remembrance and Fellowship
This is why we gather as a church. Satan attacks the wandering sheep when they are alone, whispering that God has abandoned them. We need one another to speak words of faith and to lift each other up. We must be vulnerable and share our doubts with our brothers and sisters.
Jesus asks each of us today: "Who do you say I am?". Am I the one who will watch you drown, or am I the faithful Father who will never leave you?. Whatever season you are in, stay strong and keep going back to His promises. As James 5:8 says, "You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near" (NASB 1995).
He is not just coming back; He is near to you right now, sitting next to you and interested in everything you are going through. May the Lord bless you all.