Our choices

But they hastily forgot His works; they did not [earnestly] wait for His plans [to develop] regarding them, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness and tempted and tried to restrain God [with their insistent desires] in the desert. Psalms 106:13-14 AMP

This scripture provides plenty of food for thought. It can be easy to read it and think, 'Oh yes, that is what the Israelites did'. But what about us? ...

But they hastily forgot His works

How often do we find ourselves in trouble, in need of God's help, He answers us and then we promptly go onto the next thing we need help with. We continue to get anxious and worry about things in our lives, rather than remembering what God has done for us in the past and how we has bought us through trials and tribulations. We need to take time to remember.

[Earnestly] remember the marvelous deeds that He has done, His miracles and wonders, the judgements and sentences which He pronounced [upon His enemies in Egypt]. Psalms 105:5 AMP

The next thing to consider ...

They did not [earnestly] wait for His plans [to develop] regarding them, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness

Waiting. Not something that this generation is particularly good at. I remember a preacher saying years ago, 'Who stands in front of the microwave wanting it to cook faster?' An interesting question - how would we have coped if all our cooking and boiling of water (not just camping holidays) - had to be done on an open fire? I think we would have coped because we would have had no other options. And perhaps that is why we are not good at waiting for God's plans to unfold, because we think we have other options, that we can enact. Not wise thinking on our behalf.

For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. Hebrews 10:36 AMP

And then they (we) ...

tempted and tried to restrain God [with their insistent desires] in the desert.

It can be easy to forget that God is God and we are His creation. He is the One who decides what will happen when and to whom. Not us. There is a line in the Lord's prayer that helps us remember it is all about God's will,

Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 10:9-10 AMP

Jesus reminded us of this too when He prayed.

And going a little further, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire. Matthew 26:39 AMP

And again Jesus prayed.

Again a second time He went away and prayed, My Father, if this cannot pass by unless I drink it, Your will be done. Matthew 26:42 AMP

His will, not ours. Submission. Again not a popular word in our world today - but something we need to learn to do well if Jesus really is our Lord.

Finally let's read this same passage from The Message Bible

But it wasn't long before they forgot the whole thing, wouldn't wait to be told what to do. They only cared about pleasing themselves in that desert, provoked God with their insistent demands. Psalm 106:13-14 The Message

And then looked what happened ...

He gave them exactly what they asked for - but along with it they got an empty heart. Psalm 106:15 The Message

Today we have a choice, to remember what God has done, to wait for Him, and to submit to His will. Let's choose God today, and every day.

Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! Who can put into words and tell the mighty deeds of the Lord? Or who can show forth all the praise [that is due Him]? Psalm 106:1-2 AMP