Ps 78:41-42, “Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.  They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy”.  They limited God.

God wanted to do something for Israel, but they limited God.  When he first showed up, he brought all those plagues on Egypt, Ps 78:43-51.  He led Israel through the Red Sea.  Then he brought them out into the wilderness. Afterwards, he spoke to them from Sinai with a great display of his presence.  But then he, and what he was doing among them, became commonplace.  

Same old manna, day after day.  And the same old pillar of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.  The same old water gushing out of the Rock each day.  At first, these were pretty spectacular.  But after day in and day out, they were nothing big.  And so the Jews “turned back and tempted God”.

We must be careful to not limit God, after all that he has done for us.  He delivered us from the enemy.  Do you remember how it was right after you were saved?  He gave you eternal life, he answered your prayers, he spoke to you through the preaching, he gave you spiritual fruit.  He delivered you from some bad sins.

And at first these were all remarkable.  They were the biggest miracles you had ever seen in your life.  But now they are just commonplace.  God isn’t shaking the building when he shows up like he did back in Acts 4:31.  

And you know what?  You turn back.  You go back to doing things the way you did before.   You return to the way of Egypt.

Don’t ever forget that it’s a big deal that the Lord is in you.  He will never leave thee nor forsake thee.  His lovingkindness and forbearance and grace and mercy and strength and wisdom are big deals.  They are ever with you like the pillar and the manna and the water.  Don’t turn back.  Don’t limit God.

Conclusion: God can do a big miracle this weekend, right before your eyes.  We have this Gospel Brunch on Sunday.  And I believe God wants to do something big in our midst.  Don’t limit the Holy One.  Pray.  Invite someone.  Be here.  And watch God at work.  We don’t want to be like Israel in the wilderness when they limited God.