The Table Spread in the Wilderness
When the human heart is filled with greed, gratitude for what we already have fades away, and complaints and resentment begin to grow over what we lack. It may start as a small and harmless sense of dissatisfaction, but such thoughts gradually take over the heart and eventually lead us to test God. The Israelites were no exception. They had clearly witnessed God’s miracles—He gave them water in the wilderness, fed them with manna, and kept their clothes and sandals from wearing out—yet they still turned against Him.
“Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?” (Psalm 78:19)
A table in the wilderness! They had already seen it with their eyes and tasted it with their mouths, yet they forgot again. In the endless desert, when thirst and hunger pressed upon them, when they wondered in despair—When will we rest? Where can we find relief?—Satan gently planted a thought in their hearts:
“God can’t help you here in the wilderness. How could He possibly prepare a table for you in the middle of this barren desert?”
And little by little, they began to feel their faith in God turning into doubt.
But imagine this: in the middle of a vast, barren desert, a table overflowing with all kinds of delicious food is set before us. How would we feel? Surely our mouths would drop open in astonishment, our eyes wide with wonder, and we would exclaim, “Who could possibly prepare such a table for us… here?”
This is exactly what God does. Psalm 23 describes it perfectly: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Satan tries to turn our eyes away from gratitude for what we have, making us fixate instead on what we lack—stirring up complaint and resentment within us. Yet we must remember: the table God has prepared is already set before us, even in the midst of our weakness and despair. And that table is spread right in front of our enemies, in full view of those who mock, tempt, and seek to pull us away from God. In the midst of Satan’s whispers that try to shake our faith and draw us from His presence, let us hold our hearts and minds firmly in God’s truth. For even here, in the wilderness, His table of grace awaits us.
Psalms 78 & 23
Love, not Glory
One day, Jesus said, “I do not want you to come to me simply to gain eternal life.” Surely, as we understand it—or at least as we believe—we come to Jesus in order to enter the kingdom of God, to receive eternal life. Yet here, Jesus says something surprising: He does not want us to come to Him just for eternal life. Suddenly, the question arises: Then why? For what reason should we believe in Jesus?
And immediately, Jesus continues, “I do not seek glory from people. I have seen that the love of God is not in your hearts.”
In that moment, I suddenly realized what the Lord truly desires from us. We often speak as if we are serving for God’s glory, dedicating ourselves for God’s glory, or giving up something for God’s glory. Such words sound noble and holy. Yet what the Lord truly wants is not for us to act for His glory, but to act because we love Him.
Everything we think, say, and do should flow not from the motive of “what must I do for God’s glory?” but from the love we have for God.
Yes, say YES for the glory of the Lord—but let it not become the ultimate goal. Say YES because you love the Lord, and let that love guide the way you think, speak, and act.
(John 5:40-42)
October 21, 2025
