Forgetting God

It is God who gives us the power and the means to win at life, yet how easily we forget.

How's your rememberer working these days? Is it a little faulty like mine? Has your forgetter been the default lately?

Bob and I watched a show about a woman who had some syndrome which allowed her to remember everything, always. Wow! Sure made her job as a detective more interesting.

I don't like to forget things, like where I put my keys, or my appointments, but I'm not sure I want to remember some things either. Maybe the times people hurt me, or the times I hurt others. Maybe the things I did that I shouldn't have. Or the things I should have done but didn't. Yeah, remembering and forgetting is tricky business.

The Israelites had a bit of difficulty in this area. I recently read Deuteronomy chapter 8. It's about the Israelites' journey from the oppression and slavery in Egypt, through the wilderness and on toward the promised land.

Let's read verses 11 - 17...

“Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God by failing to keep His commandments, His ordinances, and His statutes which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, and you build good houses and live in them, and when your herds and your flocks increase, and your silver and gold increase, and everything that you have increases, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; He who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions, and its thirsty ground where there was no water; He who brought water for you out of the rock of flint. In the wilderness it was He who fed you manna which your fathers did not know, in order to humble you and in order to put you to the test, to do good for you in the end. Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.'"

These people had been in Egypt some 430 years. Many lived and died in slavery, never knowing freedom. It’s a long and good story (read Exodus) but I’ll summarize - The rescue from bondage in Egypt was miraculous indeed. Yes, I know it was not the most pleasant journey wandering around in the wilderness for so long. But God was near. They had food every day. Their clothes didn’t wear out. Their feet didn’t swell up. Yet they still found things to complain about. They forgot to remember.

In terms of human characteristics, we tend to be like the Israelites. When we encounter struggles and hardships we cry out to God for help. When life is going well it is easy to slip into forgetfulness. We forget that God is the God of everything. We forget all He has done for us. We forget that He created us and gave us life. We forget that we always need Him. We might even begin to believe that we are where we are and got what we have by the power of our own strength. Humility begins to fade away as pride takes over.

Oh, but He knows the human heart that he created. He is familiar with its every weakness. Our trials and difficulties have purpose. He humbles us and tests us so that our outcome will be good in the end (vs.16). His love is without any condition. It has no borders. He wants us to win.

So, how do we give our rememberer a tune-up? Easy enough. Talk to Him. Every day, in your car, in the shower, at the gym, while you are walking. He is listening. Read His book. Every day. Even if only a few verses. His words will speak to you. Get connected at your church. Hang out with others who love Him. They will inspire you.

Verse 18 says, “But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you the power to make wealth (be successful, win at life), that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”

And don’t forget this – we are in this together. I’m always rooting for you. Sending hugs today!