Psalms 78:20

Psalms 78:20

Verse 20 continues the conversation about God’s provision: “Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?” The memory of God striking the rock to bring forth water (Exodus 17) is fresh in the psalmist’s memory. The rhetorical question points to a double failure: if God can provide water from a rock, surely He can provide bread and meat. The people’s faith is shown not merely as a lack of water, but a broader failure to anticipate God’s sufficiency. The language hints at ongoing doubt about God’s ability to sustain in the wilderness and raises the stakes for how God will respond to this trust deficit. It’s a moment where the people press God with their fear, testing whether He will still act to meet genuine needs.

This verse emphasizes God’s omnipotence in sustaining life and meeting basic needs. It also shows that provision is not limited to one form; God is capable of multiple avenues of care. The tension invites a corrective: God’s power should cultivate trust, not provoke unbelief. Theologically, the wilderness episodes reveal God’s faithful self-revelation—He is the God who provides, even when human hearts doubt. It also foreshadows the broader biblical narrative of God’s gracious provision culminating in the Messianic abundance. The lament serves as a warning against reducing God to a single mode of delivery or measuring His faithfulness by immediate outcomes.

Application in everyday life: when you doubt God’s capacity to provide, recall past preserves and look for present signs of grace. Practical steps:

- Keep a gratitude log: notice even small confirmations of God’s care.

- Plan with wisdom, but leave room for divine timing; avoid fear-driven hoarding.

- In meals and finances, practice generosity as an expression of trust in God’s abundance.

- Share testimonies of how God provided in surprising ways to build faith within your circle.

Cross-References: Exodus 17:1-7; Isaiah 58:9-11; Philippians 4:19; Matthew 6:25-34; Psalm 105:40