Remembering What God has Done
The tendency to forget God’s faithfulness is not something new.
Today we will explore why God commands His people to remember, and how remembrance transforms our present faithfulness.
Leviticus 23:42-43
“You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.”
God commanded His people to build temporary booths or shelters during the Feast of Tabernacles for one simple reason; SO THEY WOULD REMEMBER.
For seven days every year, they were to live in these makeshift booths, eat under branches, and recall how God had delivered them from Egypt and sustained them throughout the wilderness.
Here’s the crazy thing, even with all of these festivals (God commanded more than this once), all these memorials, all these repeated instructions to His people to “remember”, the chosen people of God continually were prone to forget rather than remember.
In the Old Testament, the Minor Prophets used many descriptive words to describe what happened when God’s people forgot; adultery or whoredom, were some of the main ones they continually used.
God’s people continually went after other gods/idols. Their allegiances were divided, their loyalty was mixed and muddied.
This is why the commands to remember are throughout Scripture.
Leviticus 23:42-43
“You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.”
God commanded His people to build temporary booths or shelters during the Feast of Tabernacles for one simple reason; SO THEY WOULD REMEMBER.
For seven days every year, they were to live in these makeshift booths, eat under branches, and recall how God had delivered them from Egypt and sustained them throughout the wilderness.
Here’s the crazy thing, even with all of these festivals (God commanded more than this once), all these memorials, all these repeated instructions to His people to “remember”, the chosen people of God continually were prone to forget rather than remember.
In the Old Testament, the Minor Prophets used many descriptive words to describe what happened when God’s people forgot; adultery or whoredom, were some of the main ones they continually used.
God’s people continually went after other gods/idols. Their allegiances were divided, their loyalty was mixed and muddied.
This is why the commands to remember are throughout Scripture.
Actually over 200 times does our Lord tell us to “remember”.
Deuteronomy 5:15
“Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt……"
Deuteronomy 8:2
“Remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you…….”
1 Chronicles 16:12
“Remember the wondrous works that He has done………”
Ecclesiastes 12:1
“Remember your Creator……”
Over and over again, God is telling His people, "Don't forget what I’ve done. Don't just go on with your life. Don’t just move past what I have taken you through and then slowly drift away. Don’t just draw near to Me when you are in need."
“Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt……"
Deuteronomy 8:2
“Remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you…….”
1 Chronicles 16:12
“Remember the wondrous works that He has done………”
Ecclesiastes 12:1
“Remember your Creator……”
Over and over again, God is telling His people, "Don't forget what I’ve done. Don't just go on with your life. Don’t just move past what I have taken you through and then slowly drift away. Don’t just draw near to Me when you are in need."
You are to remember the faithfulness and kindness of God whether in a trial or in a season of rest.
Look what happens when they finally remember.
In Nehemiah 8, after returning from their exile, the people of God gather as one man and cry out for Ezra to read them the Word of God. The people recognized they went wayward because they FORGOT the ways and Word of God. This is a true mark of repentance; we want the Word of God, and we want it now.
When they rediscover the Feast of Tabernacles in the Word of God, verse 17 of Nehemiah 8 says, “So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.”
They then begin to pray corporately, recounting God’s faithfulness.
Nehemiah 9 is them praying and rejoicing in the acts the Lord has done to be faithful to them despite their utter failure as His people.
In Nehemiah 8, after returning from their exile, the people of God gather as one man and cry out for Ezra to read them the Word of God. The people recognized they went wayward because they FORGOT the ways and Word of God. This is a true mark of repentance; we want the Word of God, and we want it now.
When they rediscover the Feast of Tabernacles in the Word of God, verse 17 of Nehemiah 8 says, “So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.”
They then begin to pray corporately, recounting God’s faithfulness.
Nehemiah 9 is them praying and rejoicing in the acts the Lord has done to be faithful to them despite their utter failure as His people.
The magnitude in which you remember what God has done in the past is the extent to which you’re going to be faithful in the present.
When you forget God’s provision, you start looking elsewhere for security. When you forget His deliverance, you start making compromises to avoid hardship. When you forget His love, you start questioning His goodness in trials.
But when we remember, when we actively & intentionally call to mind His past faithfulness, it transforms our present trust in Him.
You realize the same God who provided manna in the wilderness will provide for your needs today. The same God that was patient and longsuffering with a group of unfaithful people is the same God that extends mercy and grace to those in need. The same God who brought His people out of Egypt can deliver you from whatever bondage you're facing.
The Feast of Tabernacles is much like when we as the church take communion. Jesus commanded us to, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”
For Israel it was a memorial of how God delivered them out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt. For us here today, communion is a memorial to “remember” what Jesus went through and what He accomplished for us on the cross over 2,000 years ago. We need to be reminded of the cross, of His sacrifice, of His love that He poured out for us.
What has God done in your life that you have forgotten?
What deliverances, what provisions, what answered prayers have faded from your memory?
What areas of your life are you struggling to trust God that could be helped by remembering His past faithfulness?
When we forget God’s mercies it tends to lead to present unfaithfulness.
But God wants you to remember, because remembered grace fuels present trust.
But when we remember, when we actively & intentionally call to mind His past faithfulness, it transforms our present trust in Him.
You realize the same God who provided manna in the wilderness will provide for your needs today. The same God that was patient and longsuffering with a group of unfaithful people is the same God that extends mercy and grace to those in need. The same God who brought His people out of Egypt can deliver you from whatever bondage you're facing.
The Feast of Tabernacles is much like when we as the church take communion. Jesus commanded us to, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”
For Israel it was a memorial of how God delivered them out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt. For us here today, communion is a memorial to “remember” what Jesus went through and what He accomplished for us on the cross over 2,000 years ago. We need to be reminded of the cross, of His sacrifice, of His love that He poured out for us.
What has God done in your life that you have forgotten?
What deliverances, what provisions, what answered prayers have faded from your memory?
What areas of your life are you struggling to trust God that could be helped by remembering His past faithfulness?
When we forget God’s mercies it tends to lead to present unfaithfulness.
But God wants you to remember, because remembered grace fuels present trust.
Posted in Bible Devotionals
Recent
Archive
2025
February
March
May
June
August
2023
August
September
No Comments