Suffer No Hunger

Some view God as an overbearing ruler, seeking at every turn to deprive people of fun and enjoyment.  This view of God is like an ignorant child who turns up his nose at unfamiliar food.  It is ironic a picky eater who refuses good food at the table may poison himself later that day by drinking household chemicals found under the kitchen sink!  Idolatry is more dangerous and deadly than poison.  Even as a child who must trust their parents to obey their encouragement to "try" the food placed before them, so all people are called to trust God.  God does not deprive people of anything.  You can drink the poison supplied by this world if you like.  God has warned us, and if we are intent on self-destruction God will not force us to adopt His ways.  But if we desire what is good, we must choose to trust God and do what pleases Him.  Thankfully the atoning blood of Christ atones for our sins as the only antidote to save our souls.

Throughout God's history with His people, there was a recurring theme they did not listen to God.  They chose to reject God's way and He allowed them to go their own way with disastrous results.  Isn't it ironic God's own people chose to reject God's commands given to them?  Psalm 81:8-14 says, "Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you! O Israel, if you will listen to Me! ⁹ There shall be no foreign god among you; nor shall you worship any foreign god. ¹⁰ I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. ¹¹ "But My people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. ¹² So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels. ¹³ "Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! ¹⁴ I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries."  God longs greatly that people would listen to Him and obey.  He has been faithful to deliver His people from bondage, sin, and death.  How sad it is when we who have experienced His deliverance would so quickly turn from Him and follow after idols which cannot save or satisfy.  He says, "Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it."  Like a chef supplying gourmet delicacies we have never seen or tasted before, God has good things to fill us with and satisfy our souls.

Looking at food stops far short of tasting it for ourselves.  Eating involves all our major senses.  The flavour is enhanced with delicious aromas.  Quality food doesn't just look tasty, but has the correct texture:  chewy, crunchy, fluffy, or smooth.  Tasting food yourself is a personal experience, and trusting and obeying Christ is also a series of personal choices.  David was a man who had experienced God's deliverance and salvation.  David once made the mistake of seeking aid from his enemy, and when he realised his error he was struck with fear.  He pretended to be crazy before the king, scratching on the walls and allowed saliva to run down his beard.  After he was saved from that sticky and embarrassing situation, David proclaimed the goodness of God.  He wrote following the incident in Psalm 34:1-10:  "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. ² My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. ³ Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. ⁴ I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. ⁵ They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. ⁶ This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. ⁷ The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. ⁸ Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! ⁹ Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. ¹⁰ The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. "

There is nothing better than being loved by God and loving Him back, trusting and obeying His Word.  Have you tasted and seen for yourself that the LORD is good?  With David I can say truly, "Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!  There is no want to those who fear Him."  Shut the door on the equivalent of corrosive chemical cleaners you've been eyeing under the sink - those idols and sinful practices which can only destroy - and feed on God's faithfulness instead.  Open your mouth wide in faith, and God will fill it.  Those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.