Remembering God's Faithfulness

Why is it so easy for us humans to forget God's faithfulness in time past when we face new challenges?

Why do we forget that He who was Faithful and helped us in the past is still Faithful and can/will help in the present?

Why?

I believe most times we allow whatever circumstance we face overshadow our believes in God.

We allow the now rule the future while forgetting the past (which in itself is not bad) but forgetting the past (especially when it comes to God and His doings) is a no no!

The Israelites lived like this; they saw God wrought mighty miracles in Egypt when Pharaoh refused to let them go, they saw Him do all He said He would do in Egypt to let Pharaoh allow them worship Him, they saw how the River in Egypt became blood (Exodus 7:15-25), they saw frogs (Exodus 8:5-6) and locust cover the dwellings of the Egyptians (Exodus 10:12-15), they saw how hail covered the nation of Egypt (Exodus 9:22-26), how boil broke out(Exodus 9:9-10), how all the first born of the Egyptians both man and beast died (Exodus 12:29-30).

They saw how God when Moses pathed the Red Sea, apart from seeing, they walked on dry land / ground across the Red Sea (Exodus14:21-22, 29), they saw how Pharaoh, his men, horses and chariots were swallowed up by the Red Sea when he decided to chase them after letting them go (Exodus 14:26-28).

These and many more miracles did they see God do through His servant but it was never enough for them, never enough to convince them that God could do much more than whatever they were going through.

They were quick to complain, insinuating that their lives in Egypt would have been much better than their lives in the wilderness. They were thirsty, they complained (Exodus 17:2-3), wanted something different to eat (Exodus 16:2-3), they complained even before the Red Sea was pathed, they complained (Exodus 14:10-12).

Their lives revolved around complaints and accusations.

But the worse complaint they made was when it was time to enter the promised land.

The Lord told Moses to send spies to check out the land and so Moses sent 12 men from each tribe to do this. Instead of believing the words of JEHOVAH, the Isrealites chose to believe the words of the 10/12 spies "The Land is good but they are too big" (Numbers 13:27-29, 31).

These 10 spies must have said in their hearts, the land is good o but let us be realistic we can't overcome them. While this is true because by their strength alone, they would have failed for by strength shall no man prevail (1 Samuel 2:9) they forgot that they didn't send themselves, they weren't there on their own accord. They were sent by God to possess the land. God wasn't asking them to see if they would like the land or they would like to fight to own the land.

God told them to possess it. War was inevitable but because they were sent by God, they didn't have to be worried about the outcome knowing that He who started a good work was able to see them through to the end.

Sadly, they got worried and backed down even after motivations from the remaining 2/12 that they were able to possess the land (Numbers 13:30, 14:6-9).

This behaviour displeased God so dearly that He was willing to destroy them but for the intercession of a man, Moses (Numbers 11:14-20).

Unfortunately, the Lord turned His back against the disbelieving generation (Numbers 11:21-35). After they discovered this, it was too late as their actions to possess the land become futile, for the Lord was not with them (Numbers 11:39-45).

Like the Isrealites, Believers nowadays are so quick to forget God's goodness and Faithfulness. We are so quick to judge God unfaithful because of some trying times. Forgetting that God is never unfaithful. We allow worries, complaints and pressures distort our believes of God as the Faithful God.

Forgetting God's goodness and Faithfulness in times past is also an act of rebellion.

One of the reasons we forget God's faithfulness in times past is because of lack of proper documentation. Failure to document the things God does for us no matter how small or big they seem is the first step to forgetting God's goodness and faithfulness.

Having a proper documentation of His mighty hands in previous situations helps us have records we could always go to when we seem to be faced with seemingly huge or never been seen or heard situations before.

There's a Yoruba adage that says "saying we've not seen this before is how we cause fear to the listener."

If there is anyone who understands that man can forget God's goodness and faithfulness in times past and made a conscious effort to remind himself of God's faithfulness is King David, the man after God's own heart. The book of Psalms is filled with Psalms of David constantly talking about the faithfulness and goodness of God (Psalms 103; 105:5; 107)

Psalms 103 for instance shows it is possible to forget God's goodness and faithfulness;

1. Bless the Lord , O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2. Bless the Lord , O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:

3. Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,

4. Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

David in this chapter went on to describe God's goodness and faithfulness in time past both to him and to His people.

There must have been a reason he told his soul "forget not all His benefits". Probably, he was passing through a trying time and his soul was ready to judge God unfaithful. David being intentional told his soul "no, you can't call God unfaithful because of this and this, have you forgotten when He did this and did this and did that for us? No, instead of calling Him unfaithful, bless Him my soul, bless Him for His faithfulness in time past".

Also in Psalm 114 (writer unknown), we see the writer mentioning how God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt with a Mighty Hand.

We can be certain that the writer was not present when God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, but here he was making reference to God's faithfulness in that time.

After the destruction of the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah being a servant of king Artaxerxes found favour in the sight of the king to go and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah understood that the destruction of Jerusalem wasn't as a result of God's unfaithfulness but because of the unfaithfulness of the inhabitants of the land (Nehemiah 1:8-9).

He was given literally everything he needed to rebuild Jerusalem. He was faced with opposition from Sanballat, Tobiah and others but eventually, the walls got rebuilt and the captives returned.

There was a feast to celebrate the completion of the walls of Jerusalem after which the people confessed their sins. Then Jeshua and the Levites recalled God's faithfulness to previous generations before them (Nehemiah 9:4-38).

Apart from helping us remember and recall God's faithfulness and goodness in time past, referencing God's deliverance in previous time should lead to increased faith and worship.

Remembering God's goodness should always lead to worship. It could be a short "if not for You I wouldn't be where I am today" kind of worship or minutes / hours long worship.

Whatever the case maybe, it should end in worship (Psalms 103:22).

So right now, instead of complaining or making your problem or situation any bigger than it is or should be by worrying about it, why not drop it down at the feet of the Master as you come into His presence with Thanksgiving for His faithfulness and goodness in times past. Recall and write down how He came through for you in times past. And if you believe God hasn't come through for you in the past, why not look back at the lives of people who have testified of God's faithfulness and goodness in times past both in the Bible and in our world today.

God is always faithful and good. His faithfulness runs from generations to generations.

Your complaint and worries do nothing other than magnify the situation. But Thanksgiving helps you recall that there is One who is Bigger than whatever situation you might be going through.

Choose to intentionally remember the goodness and faithfulness of God in times past today.