Don’t Forget to Remember

I forget things a lot.

I forget where I place my phone. My keys. My wallet.

This happens all the time.

It drives my wife crazy.

I have this constant annoying fear that I am going to forget something even more important- like my kids. I have this frequent nightmare that I am going to forget them in a hot car or leave them at the store. It is terrible, but I am that forgetful.

For the record, I am happy to say that I have NEVER forgotten my wedding anniversary!

Recently, I was leaving my house on a Sunday morning to head to church. Normally, I like to back my car into our driveway. Out of respect and kindness for my neighbors, I turned the auto setting off on my headlights so I am not blasting light into their bedrooms at the crack of dawn. Once I left my house, it only took about ten minutes for me to get pulled over by a State Patrol to be told, “Your headlights are off!”

I forgot to turn my lights back on!! IDIOT!

Apparently, the children of Israel had this same problem: Forgetting. They were forgetful, but on a much deeper level. They were forgetting God and His work in their lives. How did this happen? If you’re unfamiliar with these stories, let me just give you some highlights.

God rescued the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt after performing 10 EPIC plagues.

God parted the Red Sea where the Israelites walked on dry ground, only for their enemies to be destroyed.

God led them by a pillar of fire at night and a pillar of cloud by day.

God provided food and water in a DESERT!

And, they forgot God.

We too are prone to forget God.

We become forgetful of God's goodness when life gets busy.

We forget God's provision when we take credit for our talent and our work.

We forget God when pride takes a hold of our hearts.

Deuteronomy, Chapter 6 says it best. It is here that Moses is giving the children of Israel some important advice:

“When the Lord your God has brought you into the land that he swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—a land with fine, large cities that you did not build, houses filled with all sorts of goods that you did not fill, hewn cisterns that you did not hew, vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant—and when you have eaten your fill, take care that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (v 10-12).

Ouch! Sounds like I am a lot like the children of Israel. I can take credit for things that are not my doing and take pride in my strength, abilities, skills, and in my gifts. I am prone to forget God as my source. The children of Israel were about to enter this glorious land where they would eat their fill, conquer their enemies, and live with prosperity. Instead of celebration and joyful anticipation for this moment in history, Moses gave a warning. If anyone knew the people of Israel, it was Moses. He's now old and about to die and has witnessed an entire generation miss out on the Promised Land because of this very problem: Forgetting. I hate to admit to it but am I really any different? I am still prone to forget God, complain and miss the mark. I’m prone to taking credit for something that only He could do and worship the provisions rather than the Provider. "Prone to wander”, like the old hymn says. "Prone to leave the God I love."

So, instead of forgetting, let us constantly:

Remember God and His goodness.

Remember God's faithful hand and guidance.

Remember that our existence is all for God and His glory.

Remember to teach our children about His amazing love and grace.

As we intentionally remember these things about God, we will remain close to Him and experience His grace and guidance to live out our lives as He intended.