They chose independence over gratitude and rebelled despite God’s miraculous intervention.
“Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.” (v.7) Here the psalmist points out the Israelites’ failure to grasp the full significance of God’s miraculous works during their time under Egyptian bondage. Their hearts—and memories—were clouded by hardship, making them too forgetful to recall His gracious deeds of deliverance. The phrase “by the sea, at the Red Sea” (v.7) draws attention to the specific place where they rebelled instead of trusting God’s power. The Red Sea lies between northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It was along this expanse of water that, around 1446 BC, God demonstrated His rescuing power by parting the sea so the Israelites could escape from Pharaoh’s army (Exodus 14:21-22).
By highlighting that they “did not understand” and “did not remember” (v.7), the verse emphasizes the danger of spiritual forgetfulness. The people failed to remember the abundant kindnesses God showed them, including the plagues on Egypt and their own protection. In many ways, this parallels later teachings in the New Testament, such as Jesus’s reminder to His followers to remain in Him and remember His works as the true source of salvation (John 15:7). Forgetfulness can lead to unbelief, and unbelief can end in rebellion, as was the case at the Red Sea, a significant pivot point in Israel’s history.
Failing to trust God’s faithfulness has always carried serious consequences for His people. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 (version), the Apostle Paul references Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea as an early example for believers to learn from and avoid repeating the same mistakes of unbelief. By forgetting all that God had done for them, the Israelites momentarily lost sight of His overarching plan. This timeless warning reminds followers of Christ to remain mindful of God’s character and deeds throughout Scripture.
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Psalms 106:7 meaning
“Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.” (v.7) Here the psalmist points out the Israelites’ failure to grasp the full significance of God’s miraculous works during their time under Egyptian bondage. Their hearts—and memories—were clouded by hardship, making them too forgetful to recall His gracious deeds of deliverance. The phrase “by the sea, at the Red Sea” (v.7) draws attention to the specific place where they rebelled instead of trusting God’s power. The Red Sea lies between northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It was along this expanse of water that, around 1446 BC, God demonstrated His rescuing power by parting the sea so the Israelites could escape from Pharaoh’s army (Exodus 14:21-22).
By highlighting that they “did not understand” and “did not remember” (v.7), the verse emphasizes the danger of spiritual forgetfulness. The people failed to remember the abundant kindnesses God showed them, including the plagues on Egypt and their own protection. In many ways, this parallels later teachings in the New Testament, such as Jesus’s reminder to His followers to remain in Him and remember His works as the true source of salvation (John 15:7). Forgetfulness can lead to unbelief, and unbelief can end in rebellion, as was the case at the Red Sea, a significant pivot point in Israel’s history.
Failing to trust God’s faithfulness has always carried serious consequences for His people. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 (version), the Apostle Paul references Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea as an early example for believers to learn from and avoid repeating the same mistakes of unbelief. By forgetting all that God had done for them, the Israelites momentarily lost sight of His overarching plan. This timeless warning reminds followers of Christ to remain mindful of God’s character and deeds throughout Scripture.