remembering in the wilderness
They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things… (Psalm 106:21)
As I read the Old Testament, I am often amazed by the children of Israel. There are times I’m tempted to think, “How could they forget? Look at all God did for them… If I had been there, I wouldn’t have acted like that.” Over and over, the children of Israel turned from God. They created false gods; they relied on their own strength; they didn’t listen to wise council; they often forgot the mighty hand of God that had been at work in their lives (read Psalm 106).
I think these things and can tend to look down on the Children of Israel for their dullness to recognizing God at work. Then I look in the mirror and I am reminded how often I forget God too.
“In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in Egypt!” (Exodus 16:2-3)
Really!? They had just walked through a sea and watched an entire army drown. But sadly, their perspective was short-sighted. They were now in a wilderness. The amazing works of God from just days before were now a forgotten memory.
All of us have some kind of “wilderness” in our lives… a time when God seems distant and when we forget the mighty acts He’s done for us. I sure have. But, my sufferings are meant to produce endurance, character and hope in God. My trials and wildernesses are meant to remind me of God’s faithfulness to me. Let this truth free us from complaining and cause us to rejoice in the mercy of our God to us.
Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin. But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented. (Psalm 106:43-45) Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 106:1)
Prayer: Father, thank you for your mercy to me. Over and over again, you have blessed me, yet I so often forget that. Please keep me always aware of your cross and your graciousness to me. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your forgiveness and grace to me. I praise you that you design every trial and test to teach me more of your unchanging character.
[copyright, 2010, Emily Schankweiler; A Sacrifice of Praise]
Thanks so much for this post. We often get consumed by the seen and forget the unseen. We begin to believe the real is the natural and forget the reality of the supernatural. I’ve had to learn in the wilderness that my hunger and thirst could not be satisfied by those things I saw around me in the desert but rather only by the Lord. This post was a good reminder today.
Glen, thanks for your comments. Its so true that the desert cannot satisfy. I pray that God continues to work in giving us more of an eternal perspective in trials.
I truly enjoy your writings. I did a blog on the wilderness as well…when I was in one for a long season. We can never be reminded enough that sometimes the biggest things God does for us is while we are in or when we come out of our various wildernesses…..He is awesome and all knowing and sometimes, well, we just have to go through a season to become stronger and ready for a new level.