Psalm 78:17-20
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The psalm highlights that their sin wasn't just disobedience, but a deliberate escalation of rebellion—they "sinned yet more," as if past miracles had emboldened their ingratitude rather than inspiring awe. This reveals a chilling truth: when we ignore God's grace, our disobedience can become a habit that grows bolder, not weaker, in the very places where His presence is most felt.
Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness? He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm recounts Israel's history not chronologically, but to teach a lesson: God's incredible acts of grace were met with consistent disobedience and forgetfulness. The psalmist focuses on the wilderness period, highlighting how God provided water and food, yet the people repeatedly grumbled and tested Him, even after experiencing His miraculous provision. This verse marks the turning point where the psalmist details their continued, escalating rebellion in the desolate desert.
When you've received so much, why does sin get worse instead of better? This verse points to a harsh truth about our spiritual lives.
The psalmist highlights a tragic pattern in Israel's history: the more God blessed them, the more they sinned.
The Paradox of Blessing
Think about it: after God delivered them from Egypt with mighty acts, and then sustained them with water and manna in the barren desert, you'd expect their obedience to skyrocket, right? But the opposite happened.
Psalm 78:17 says, 'Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert.' This wasn't just any sin; it was sin that was aggravated by the very grace they received. Their dependence on God for survival, the constant display of His power – these should have fostered deep trust, but instead, they fueled rebellion.
The Wilderness as a Crucible
The wilderness was a place where God stripped away all other supports to force them to rely on Him alone. It was a crucible designed to refine their faith. Instead, for many, it became a place where their sinful nature, unconstrained by the comforts of Egypt or the structure of a settled land, erupted in defiance.
What does it really mean to 'provoke' God? This verse uses strong language to describe Israel's attitude toward their Creator.
The phrase 'provoking the Most High' is not about accidentally annoying God. It signifies a deliberate, almost defiant, act of challenging His authority and goodness.
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The Nature of Provocation
Israel wasn't just passively sinning; they were actively provoking God. This implies a conscious awareness of His presence and power, coupled with a disregard for His will. They knew who He was – the 'Most High' – yet they acted as if they could openly defy Him without consequence.
Testing God's Limits
This provocation often manifested as 'tempting' God, as seen in later verses. They weren't just asking for needs to be met; they were demanding proof of His power and willingness to cater to their desires, especially their cravings for comfort and familiar pleasures from Egypt. This attitude questions God's character and His ability to provide.
It's like saying, 'You showed us amazing power by giving water, but can you really take care of us in this hard place? Are you truly the Most High, or are you limited?' This was a direct assault on His sovereignty and faithfulness.
Understand the original words
chata' · Hebrew Verb
To miss the mark, violate God's law, or fall short of His standard of holiness. It denotes an act of disobedience that separates one from God's presence.
marah · Hebrew Verb
An act of active resistance or defiance against legitimate authority; in a biblical context, it refers to a wilful breach of the covenantal relationship with God.
Elyon · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A title for God (El Elyon) emphasizing His supremacy, sovereignty, and distinctness above all creation and all other supposed deities.
nasah · Hebrew Verb
To put God to the test or to try His patience; it implies a lack of trust in God's character and providence despite past evidence of His power.
Elohim · Hebrew Noun
A term for the deity of Israel, referring to the one true God who is the Creator, Sustainer, and covenant-keeper of His people.
yeshimon · Hebrew Noun
A desolate, uninhabited place; biblically, it is often a place of testing, provision, and divine encounter where humans are stripped of worldly supports and forced to rely entirely on God.
shulchan · Hebrew Noun
A metaphor for God's ability to provide sustenance and bounty. It reflects the covenantal care God promises to those who walk in obedience.
nakah · Hebrew Verb
To smite or strike with physical force; in Scripture, it is often used for God's exercise of power, whether in judgment or to miraculously open sources of provision.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
After generations of slavery, the Israelites are dramatically delivered from Egypt by God's mighty acts, led by Moses.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Wanderings Begin
Following the Exodus, the Israelites begin their 40-year journey through the Sinai desert towards the Promised Land.
c. 1445 BC
Manna and Quail Provision
In the Wilderness of Sin, God miraculously provides manna and quail to sustain the grumbling Israelites, demonstrating His provision.
c. 1445 BC
Water from the Rock at Rephidim
When the Israelites thirst, God instructs Moses to strike the rock at Horeb (Sinai), causing water to gush forth.
c. 1444 BC— this verse
Rebellion and More Sins in the Desert
Despite experiencing God's direct provision and protection, the Israelites continue to sin, grumble, and test God's patience in the harsh desert environment.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
After 40 years of wandering, the new generation of Israelites crosses the Jordan River and begins conquering the Promised Land.
This passage directly parallels the complaint mentioned in Psalm 78, where the Israelites craved meat, showing their continued dissatisfaction and sin even after God's miraculous provision.
Exodus 16:3This verse describes the initial murmuring of the Israelites for food in the wilderness, illustrating the 'sinned yet more' aspect of Psalm 78 by highlighting an earlier instance of their rebellion.
Deuteronomy 8:2-3This passage reminds Israel of God's purpose in leading them through the wilderness – to humble and test them and to teach them that man lives by God's word, providing context for why their sin in the wilderness was so grievous.
Psalm 106:13-14This psalm echoes Psalm 78's theme of Israel's ingratitude in the wilderness, showing their quick forgetfulness of God's works and their persistent desire, which directly relates to provoking God.
expositorsPsalms 78:1-72: "Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth."
Psalm 78:1-72 THIS psalm is closely related to Psalm 105:1-45 ; Psalm 106:1-48 ; Psalm 107:1-43 . Like them, it treats the history of Israel, and especially the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, for purposes of edification, rebuke, and encouragement. The past is held up as a mirror to the present generation. It has been one long succession of miracles of mercy met by equally continu…
ellicottPsalms 78:17: "And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness."
(17) They sinned yet more and more .—This implies the discontent which had already shown itself before the miraculous supply of water.
The psalm highlights that their sin wasn't just disobedience, but a deliberate escalation of rebellion—they "sinned yet more," as if past miracles had emboldened their ingratitude rather than inspiring awe. This reveals a chilling truth: when we ignore God's grace, our disobedience can become a habit that grows bolder, not weaker, in the very places where His presence is most felt.
This psalm recounts Israel's history not chronologically, but to teach a lesson: God's incredible acts of grace were met with consistent disobedience and forgetfulness. The psalmist focuses on the wilderness period, highlighting how God provided water and food, yet the people repeatedly grumbled and tested Him, even after experiencing His miraculous provision. This verse marks the turning point where the psalmist details their continued, escalating rebellion in the desolate desert.
This psalm recounts Israel's history not chronologically, but to teach a lesson: God's incredible acts of grace were met with consistent disobedience and forgetfulness. The psalmist focuses on the wilderness period, highlighting how God provided water and food, yet the people repeatedly grumbled and tested Him, even after experiencing His miraculous provision. This verse marks the turning point where the psalmist details their continued, escalating rebellion in the desolate desert.
"Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the…" — The psalm highlights that their sin wasn't just disobedience, but a deliberate escalation of rebellion—they "sinned yet more," as if past miracles had emboldened their ingratitude rather than inspi…
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Last reviewed October 2026
