They refused to trust God despite repeated miracles, revealing the peril of unbelief and the need to respond to His works with lasting faith.
In spite of all this they still sinned and did not believe in His wonderful works. (v.32) This verse appears in a larger psalm attributed to Asaph that recounts the miraculous interventions the Lord performed on behalf of the Israelites, particularly during their exodus from Egypt and their subsequent journey through the wilderness. Psalm 78 details how God rescued His people time and again, yet the people responded with ingratitude and continued disobedience. Whether the Lord brought frogs into Egypt as a display of power (Psalm 78:45) or used wind to miraculously provide quail (Psalm 78:26-28), the Israelites experienced sustained examples of divine care. But, as this verse emphasizes, they refused to trust and believe, despite the wonders He performed on their behalf.
By stating they “did not believe in His wonderful works,” the psalmist stresses how disbelief arose even in the midst of overwhelming evidence of God’s goodness. Time and again, God provided for Israel, satisfying physical needs and rescuing them from threats, only for them to slip back into skepticism and sin. Their hearts resembled the hard soil Jesus later described, where truth could be seen yet not allowed to take lasting root (Matthew 13:19). This disconnect between seeing miracles and harboring unbelief stands as a warning for all generations not to let familiarity with God’s blessing dull reverence for Him.
In a broader sense, Psalm 78:32 underscores the tragedy of persistently refusing God’s grace. Instead of turning back after witnessing mighty deeds, the Israelites pressed on in rebellion. These cautionary accounts prepare hearts to appreciate the steadfast mercy displayed in Christ, who similarly confronted human unbelief but offered redemption (John 1:11-12). Jesus’s example reminds believers to heed the lessons of Israel’s cycle, laying hold of faith rather than stubbornness.
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Psalms 78:32 meaning
In spite of all this they still sinned and did not believe in His wonderful works. (v.32) This verse appears in a larger psalm attributed to Asaph that recounts the miraculous interventions the Lord performed on behalf of the Israelites, particularly during their exodus from Egypt and their subsequent journey through the wilderness. Psalm 78 details how God rescued His people time and again, yet the people responded with ingratitude and continued disobedience. Whether the Lord brought frogs into Egypt as a display of power (Psalm 78:45) or used wind to miraculously provide quail (Psalm 78:26-28), the Israelites experienced sustained examples of divine care. But, as this verse emphasizes, they refused to trust and believe, despite the wonders He performed on their behalf.
By stating they “did not believe in His wonderful works,” the psalmist stresses how disbelief arose even in the midst of overwhelming evidence of God’s goodness. Time and again, God provided for Israel, satisfying physical needs and rescuing them from threats, only for them to slip back into skepticism and sin. Their hearts resembled the hard soil Jesus later described, where truth could be seen yet not allowed to take lasting root (Matthew 13:19). This disconnect between seeing miracles and harboring unbelief stands as a warning for all generations not to let familiarity with God’s blessing dull reverence for Him.
In a broader sense, Psalm 78:32 underscores the tragedy of persistently refusing God’s grace. Instead of turning back after witnessing mighty deeds, the Israelites pressed on in rebellion. These cautionary accounts prepare hearts to appreciate the steadfast mercy displayed in Christ, who similarly confronted human unbelief but offered redemption (John 1:11-12). Jesus’s example reminds believers to heed the lessons of Israel’s cycle, laying hold of faith rather than stubbornness.