Reading this question should remind us how ungrateful and unfaithful can be to the Lord. Today’s passage offers a series of questions God is asking each one of us, especially in times of doubts, discouragement or lack of direction: “When I came, why was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Was my arm too short to deliver you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you?” My brother, my sister, what do you expect from the Lord that seems impossible to you and brings you to doubt His ability to give it to you? The Bible teaches us that God never rejected or abandoned His people, but His people rejected Him again and again, prefering to live their live independently from Him, chosing other gods or simply ignoring His principles. Are we different from Israel?
Today as yesterday, God is willing to fulfil His promises in our lives individually. But we keep selling ourselves into sin, thus causing our own problems. My friend, God’s Spirit grieves and saddens whenever we sin, because He dwells in us to give us strength, courage, faifthfulness, and everything we need for our Christian walk. Yet, we reject that indwelling by choosing to live according to the standards of the world, predominently allowing our flesh to dictate our ways. That is the reason why the Lord is asking us today: ‘why was no one there when I came’ (verse 2). Yes, God cannot pay us a visit and our lives remain the same. Yet, the sad truth is that, when He visits us, if He finds us dwelling in the mud of sin, He cannot see us… He can only see us when we are clothed with Christ: “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” (Romans 13:14).
Indeed, God wants to see all His sons and daughters dwell in a place of rest until the return of Christ. But how many of them continue to cry and complain as if He is incapable of speaking to the sea and make it dry up or turn rivers into deserts (verse 3). My friend, there is a big difference between knowing God and knowing about God. Only someone who knows God does not complain about his life and circumstances, because that person knows that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28)… It is written ALL THINGS, not only good things then! Therefore, let’s learn to examine our own attitudes and behaviours towards the Lord to determine our own knowledge of God, for our love for Him is effectively determined by how we know Him. Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.