We all have a tendency to limit God. And the stronghold of these limits is located in the personal arena of our faith. It’s easier to believe God for miracles when “who” or “what” we believe God for is dislocated from our personal environment. When there’s no personal attachment and no emotional loss at stake, releasing our faith seems to be an easy task. But when it hits “home,” within our personal arena, all of a sudden, the faith walk has just become more difficult.
Why? It’s because of an inability to remember.
The Israelites, after leaving Egypt were an interesting group of people. They’re Interesting because, well…they remind me of me! I have an amazing ability – or more like a “disability” to forget. And I think we all do this. We forget the things we need to remember and remember the things we need to forget. God help us.
Scripture says, “And time and again they turned back and tempted God, provoking and incensing the Holy One of Israel.” (Ps.78:41). The disability of the Israelites in the wilderness caused the initial generation to never enter into their promise. Their forgetfulness caused them to turn back and to live cyclical lives of dysfunction.
The Israelites did something that I’m unfortunately very good at; they murmured continually in disbelief even though God had already proven himself many times. They continually questioned God… “Sure, He made a way for us through the Red Sea, but can He give us bread?” God gave them bread. In fact, He spread a table for them in the wilderness. “But can He give us water?” they asked. He gave them water from a rock. “But can He give us meat?” He gave them meat from the sky. “But can He deliver us from our enemies?” And on and on and on… Sound familiar?
So, here’s my solution. Remember. Try to gather as many “God clues” as possible. Stuff He did for you, your family and in other people in your past. Once they’re gathered, you have just RE-MEMBERED them. You brought random memories and formed a message. And that message is assurance that if God did then, He’ll do it again – for you!
Blog entry #42 – Remembering all He has done for us!
