Remember

In the book of Deuteronomy God continually tells the Israelites to “Remember” that He has taken them out of slavery in Egypt.
He tells them to “Remember” that He has brought them through the 40 years in the wilderness.
He tells them to “Remember” the previous generations and how He blessed them and provided for them.

some examples…
Deut 5:15 – You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.

Deut 7:17-18 – 17 “If you say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I. How can I dispossess them?’ 18 you shall not be afraid of them but you shall remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt

Deut 8:2 – And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.

Deut 8:18 – You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Deut 9:7 – Remember and do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord.

Deut 15:15 – You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today.

Deut 16:12 – You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.

Deut 24:17-18 – 17 “You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge, 18 but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this.

Deut 24:22 – You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.

Deut 32:7 – Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.

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Ok.  You get the point.  Then in the next book (Joshua) when the Israelites are finally in the promised land, God has a conversation with their new leader, Joshua.  He immediately tells him to “remember.”

Joshua 1:13 – “Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’

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So what’s my point?  Why I am pointing out obscure OT texts where God tells the Israelites to remember what He has done?  Because they, like us, were quick to forget what God has done for them.  Their hearts were quick to turn to idols and away from the One True God.  So are ours.  Our hearts are prone to wander, unless we “remember.”  Our hearts will easily be swayed away from Christ to idols if we don’t remember.

We must continually remind ourselves how faithful God has been to us.  We must remember what Christ has done for us on the cross, taking our place and imputing to us His righteousness.  We must remember that He deserves to sit on the throne of our hearts.  We must remember that He is good.  We must remember how much He loves us.

If we don’t, we will end up like the Israelites, wandering around for 40 years here on this earth, wasting our lives.

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ps – Speaking of remembering, remember to set your clock forward this Saturday night so you can make it on time to church.