Unbelief does terrible things to people, like turn them into raving lunatics.
Don’t believe me? Look at what it did to the Israelites. They had been rescued by God from the hand of Egypt and were on the verge of entering the Promised Land. But when Israelite spies brought back reports of enemies on steroids, the Israelites had a total meltdown. They said:
Because the LORD hated us he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. (Deut. 1:27)
This is crazy talk. The Israelites were God’s chosen, beloved, precious people. He busted them out of Egypt, water-bombed Pharaoh and his army, led them through the wasteland, fed them with bread from heaven, and promised to bring them into a land of rest. God was good to Israel. God loved Israel.
But the sin of unbelief always leads to faulty thinking about God. In the face of the enemy, Israel’s faith in God evaporated. Suddenly they viewed God through the lens of unbelief, a lens which made God appear to be cold, unloving, and hateful. Israel failed to believe God’s promise, which led them to doubt and accuse God.
Unbelief caused them to become raving lunatics.
Unbelief turns us into lunatics too. In the face of challenging circumstances, our faith often evaporates and we start to accuse God. For example:
- CIRCUMSTANCE: You have yet another conflict with your son or daughter.
- UNBELIEF: I will never change, my child will never change.
- ACCUSATION: God why are you letting this happen to me? Why do I have to deal with this unruly child? My son/daughter will never follow God.
- TRUTH: The gospel is the power of God to save and change your child. God is working these conflicts for your good and his glory.
We must fight against the sin of unbelief by exercising faith in the promises and character of God.
It’s the only way to avoid lunacy.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
This is excellent Stephen. I was very convicted by this and spent a while thinking about it. When I think about everything that God has done for me – giving up His only son and then leaving him on the cross – it is crazy for me to think that he would provide for my needs and even for the desires of my heart. When I refuse to believe that God will provide for me (in whatever situation), I am accusing him of not loving me enough. He has proven his love to me beyond a shadow of a doubt and I am telling him that it wasn’t good enough. When I think about it that way – it does seem crazy. Thank you for another thought provoking post.
Wendy – I’m glad that it was helpful for you. When we ponder the gospel it truly does make our unbelief look crazy.
Thanks for this helpful, convicting post. Very timely. I realize that I’ve been accusing God of not being good a lot lately. Boils down to my pride, selfishness, and an ungrateful heart. I so don’t want to view God this way. This does not bring Him glory at all. But, this verse helpts bring back my gaze.
“My sin O the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin not in part but the whole
Was nailed to the cross
And I bear it no more
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!”
This is the God who is faithful and who loves me. This is the God that I have not been trusting. Help me, O Lord!
CountryGal – Aren’t you grateful for the cross, which cleanses all our raving unbelief? The very God that we don’t trust is the one who loves us and convicts us. What a kind God we serve.
I beg to differ. I would suggest that the most deluded and dangerous people on the planet are the righteous “true believers”.
And that it has always been so.
And that a goodly proportion of them live in the USA.
This reference provides ample historically documented proof.
1. http://www.jesusneverexisted.com/winter.html
BOY! Do I agree! I ACT like a lunatic when interacting with my son sometimes, ALL because of fear and unbeleif! The reason I lose my cool wth him is because I fear his going down the wrong road when i have prayed for him since he was little that the Lord would guide and direct his life….. Now did the Lord hear my prayer or not? He did-It’s unbeief and I end up acting like a luntaic.