Memory Lapses

As I went to a study early this morning, I was following a slower vehicle. I was thankful that the driver didn’t turn down the road I normally took. Relieved, I joyfully headed down the road till I remembered that part of the road was under construction. I have been so used to going that way that I am on auto pilot. By the time I realized my mistake, it would have taken too long to back-track. I know my memory isn’t what it used to be, but I know better. The study that we had was talking about the glory of God. It focused on Moses in the wilderness when God spoke with him. One time, after an amazing interaction with God, he returned from the mountain with his face shining so bright that the Israelites couldn’t look at him. I think about the 10 plagues that God brought on Egypt so that Pharaoh would let the people go into the wilderness to worship God. I think about the sea being parted and several million walking through on dry ground, but the waters returned to drown the Egyptian army that was in chase. They saw manna, bread from heaven, every day. They saw bitter water turned sweet. They won impossible victories. Their shoes and clothing didn’t wear out. They saw the presence of God on Mount Sinai as the 10 commandments were given. They saw wicked Israelites destroyed. The list goes on. I started off looking at my memory. Then I looked at the memory of the Israelites. After all they saw, even though there may have been months between miracles, they still forgot about God. How could they know God and see His work as they did and yet not believe? Then I have to ask about us as well. How is our memory? Instead of remembering the many times God has answered our prayers, somehow, we only seem to remember the times they weren’t answered the way that we wanted. We may have seen the hand of God at work but have quickly forgotten. We may have heard the testimony of others that we trust that testify to what God has done, but we quickly forget. We read God’s word and can see how these words are validated by many historical events recorded in other places and yet we forget God’s word too. Is it a sickness? In a way. It is our own sinful self and sin that pulls us down. Let us not forget there is only one God! Serve Him. Lord, help us to remember You, Your word, Your promises, and Your grace and mercy, for without it, we would be lost. Amen