Honestly, I tend to get irritated with the Israelites when I read about their years in the desert... God had JUST delivered them out of Egypt, He provided them with manna and quail, and He guided them each day and night! Yet they still found things to complain about, and chose to not trust the Lord. Why did He keep reminding them? I mean, how could they so easily forget all that God had done?
Reading my paragraph above, I have to laugh at myself...because this past week, I've been like the Israelites. (And I'm quite sure I've been like them MANY times in my life!)
I get it. {and I have to be honest, my attitude towards the Israelites in the desert just became much more gracious! ;)}
My fiancé and I are in the planning stages of both our wedding and our life together. We're figuring out plans for our wedding ceremony, our reception, and all the details that go with that, but then at the same time we are working on the plans/details for our life together after the wedding, things like household essentials, finding a place to live, and budgeting. It's fun! But it is also stressful at times.
One of the things we had been praying about was a full time job for Aaron. We prayed very specifically. Not only did God provide a full time position for Aaron, but He also answered every single aspect of our prayer. We were (and still are) blown away by His grace and His goodness!
The next thing on our to do list was to start looking at housing, which if I'm being totally honest is really exciting, but also very stressful. There are just so many details, so many financial aspects, and so many things to be thinking about.
So what did I do? I forgot.
Now I understand why God kept telling the Israelites to "remember..." Having the right perspective (remembering) can change our attitudes, our thoughts, and our prayers so much!
The Israelites, after being rescued from Egypt, didn't remember all that God had done. They saw what seemed like an insurmountable feat in front of them (such as taking the Promised Land), and chose to focus on it, rather than looking behind them and remembering the Red Sea they had just walked through.
I see our need for housing looming in front of us, and at times it really does seem impossible, but I forget to look behind and remember: Remember all that God has already done, and has already provided!
He answered our prayers concerning a full time job, and He did it in ways in which He truly gets ALL the glory, because it was all Him.
So why, I have to keep asking myself, am I afraid? Why am I doubting that He won't continue to provide? All I have to do is look behind me, and I see the countless ways He has provided already!! God has a perfect track record, and He isn't going to change now.
He might not provide how I want, or how I expect, but He will provide.
He'll always answer our prayers! Again, maybe not how I would like, or how I expect, but I can count on Him always answering.
I understand now why God kept telling the Israelites to remember, because let's just be honest, we tend to forget so easily... He reminded them again and again, because He knew their tendency to forget His faithfulness. It might seem redundant, but it was necessary.
Remembering God's faithfulness leads to gratitude, which leads to trust. If we remember where we've been and how God led and provided, then we can continue to trust Him as we walk into the unknown future.
I want to learn from the Israelites, and choose to trust God. I want to choose to be thankful (instead of grumbling). I want to choose to remember.
I want to remember all that God has done, to be grateful for each answered prayer, and I want to trust that His faithfulness will continue!
Yes, there might be a mountain in front of me, but He just led me through the Red Sea. Why should I fear?
Great is His faithfulness! (Lamentations 3:23)
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| picture from google images |
