They tested God in their heart
    by demanding the food they craved.
They spoke against God, saying,
    “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
He struck the rock so that water gushed out
    and streams overflowed.
Can He also give bread
    or provide meat for His people?”  (Psalm 78:18-20)

When we look at the history of Israel–how God chose them, delivered them, and set them apart for Himself–it seems that the nation really had it all. The people had seen God’s wonders in Egypt. They continued to see Him provide for them in the wilderness. They saw His mercy and grace in the midst of their disobedience. Yet, they continued to turn away from Him, finding other ways to satisfy their cravings.

Sounds a lot like us, doesn’t it?

Let’s be honest for a moment–at least the moments that it takes you to read this. When we are alone with our own thoughts, we often have this nagging thought that perhaps we aren’t doing as well as we would like to think or project to others. We’re not sure what the real problem is, but we suspect there’s one under there somewhere.

Sure, we’ve learned to curb those obvious outward behaviors. We are nice, respectable, helpful, maybe even kind. Underneath all that, though, we wonder about our motives. We wonder why our life is not better. Why isn’t God answering the prayers that we desperately–I mean humbly–pray? We easily proclaim that He is good, we trust Him, we surrender to Him–at least in the good times.

Could it be that we really don’t trust Him or believe that He’s as good as He says?

That was definitely the problem in Israel’s case. The Psalmist here tell us, “They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved.” Let’s take a look at that. First, they “tested” God in their heart. The Hebrew word here signifies asking for proof. In the same way, the Jews in Jesus’ day continually asked Him for a sign to “prove” His authority.

The only reason I need “proof” is that I have serious doubts.

Ever since the Garden, humankind has believed this root-level lie: God is not as good as He claims. That’s the lie that Eve fell victim to. “Eve, there’s something good for you on that tree and God doesn’t want you to have it. Therefore, He must not be good.” The Bible does say that the tree was “good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise” (Gen. 3:6). The truth is, however, that God knew (and knows) what’s best.

Adam believed a similar lie. Now, imagine this: Eve comes to her husband, and she has this piece of fruit from the tree. The one God said was off-limits. She starts telling him about the serpent and the conversation and how good the fruit was! Now, Adam is standing there with a wife who has been disobedient to God.

He hadn’t prepared for this.

Now Adam has to decide what to do. We humans hate confusion. We want to know what we should do so our plans will go as we want. No doubt Adam was confused. As I see it, he had three basic options:

1. He could have separated himself from her. But “this is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.” It would have been like tearing himself apart (a good reminder about marriage, but that’s for another post).
2. He could have counseled her and assured her of God’s goodness, and led her to God and a place of repentance. What might have happened if he had?
3. He could have, and did, eat of the fruit, thus joining in her disobedience.

It’s interesting to notice in Gen. 3:7 that “both of their eyes were opened” only after “her husband . . . ate” (v. 6). He did have a choice, and his choice had consequences for him, his wife, and others (another good reminder for marriage, but again, that’s another post).

Now, why did he choose the third option? Based on what we know about human nature and its hostility to God, I believe he did so because he fell victim to the same lie: God is not good. And he had an even stronger case: God, you didn’t prepare me for what to do in this case! How can you call Yourself good when you don’t give me what I need?

Adam’s subsequent actions and responses tell the story of his belief. What was the first thing he and Eve did? They hid from God. Why? Because He’s not good, and He won’t understand why we had to do what we did. When questioned, Adam blamed the woman–and God. “This woman that You gave me . . .”

If we are ever going to be able to truly walk with Christ as He desires us to, we will have to learn that God is good. Not in the academic sense of “learn,” but in the real-world way. And it starts by going past the barriers we have put up and admitting to ourselves our fear that maybe God isn’t as good as He claims.

Once we come to that place, though, we are in a good place. Because then (and only then) can we really learn just how good He is.