Forgetful by nature, people make errors. We do it within the miscalculation of a math downside, lacking the flip off of the interstate, or forgetting somebody’s identify. Not earth-shattering issues, however errors, nonetheless, which trigger us complications and U-turns and overdrawn financial institution accounts.
Everyone knows the saying about how historical past repeats itself. Why? As a result of we neglect {that a} sure previous mind-set induced a struggle or previous actions induced a crash within the markets. Our incapacity to recollect and study results in continued strife and discord.
Forgetting previous occasions harm God’s folks.
This incapacity to recollect is nothing new. Began in a backyard, really, when a sure girl didn’t bear in mind God’s phrases to her and her husband. Nevertheless, we’d suppose that not remembering phrases is comprehensible, however when one thing nice occurs, how can we neglect that? Easy. We do.
There are a number of reminders to this incapacity to recollect God’s actions on behalf of his those that we are able to discover in Scripture. This week we’ll have a look at Outdated Testomony references and transfer to some within the New Testomony subsequent Friday. Psalm 78 is a whole lesson on the necessity of God’s folks to study from their previous. This included not solely what God stated however what he did—occasions that occurred of their historical past.
He factors out the failures of archers from the tribe of Ephraim resulting from their incapacity to recollect.
The Ephraimite archers turned again on the day of battle. They didn’t preserve God’s covenant and refused to reside by his regulation. They forgot what he had finished, the wondrous works he had proven them. (Psalm 78:September 11 CSB, emphasis added)
The psalmist goes on to listing precisely what he was speaking about by detailing the wonders God had finished in Egypt, how he cut up the ocean, led them by cloud and fireplace, and introduced water from rocks for them to drink. How might they neglect these superb issues?
However Israel’s forgetfulness is absolutely recorded, and the author of Psalm 106 offers examples of their rebel and trigger for his or her sin.
Each we and our ancestors have sinned; we now have finished unsuitable and have acted wickedly. Our ancestors in Egypt didn’t grasp the importance of your wondrous works or bear in mind your many acts of devoted love; as a substitute, they rebelled by the ocean—the Pink Sea.
They quickly forgot his works and wouldn’t look ahead to his counsel. (Psalm 106:6-7, 13, emphasis added)
When a folks neglect all God has finished up to now, they flip away from him and not search his assist or counsel.
Not solely will we put out of your mind the mighty works of God, however we additionally neglect the evil acts of our personal folks and the results paid. God spoke by way of the prophet Jeremiah these phrases to Jews who had been residing in Egypt.
You might be angering me by the work of your arms. You might be burning incense to different gods within the land of Egypt the place you will have gone to remain for some time. In consequence, you can be lower off and grow to be an instance for cursing and insult amongst all of the nations of earth. Have you ever forgotten the evils of your ancestors, the evils of Judah’s kings, the evils of their wives, your individual evils, and the evils of your wives that had been dedicated within the land of Judah and within the streets of Jerusalem? They haven’t grow to be humble to today, and so they haven’t feared or adopted my instruction or my statutes that I set earlier than you and your ancestors. (Jeremiah 44:8-10, emphasis added)
We should not neglect what God has finished up to now nor the value God’s folks (Israel and the Church) have paid for sinful acts. We hear of them within the information in the present day, of pastors and Christian leaders or artists who’ve sinned and misplaced their households, ministry, and future. Will we not bear in mind?
When it’s proper to neglect previous occasions.
Whereas we should bear in mind in some methods, there’s a hopeful verse Isaiah that tells us it’s vital to neglect some previous occasions.
“Don’t bear in mind the previous occasions; pay no consideration to issues of outdated. Look, I’m about to do one thing new; even now it’s coming. Do you not see it? Certainly, I’ll make a method within the wilderness, rivers within the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19)
Isaiah was pointing God’s rebellious folks to a brand new day. It might be a day when God would redeem his folks once-and-for-all from their sin. The previous could be up to now. Their sins remembered no extra. He would do one thing utterly new by way of the approaching incarnation of the Son of God.
Solely by way of religion in Christ’s work on the cross and conquering of loss of life by way of the resurrection can we put our personal sinful previous behind us. We are able to neglect it as a result of God does. As we’re lined within the redemptive blood of Christ, our previous not has a maintain on us. We’re free—free finally!
Keep in mind that which attracts you nearer to God—Overlook that which drives him away.
Grace and Peace
Should you missed the final Friday Focus submit, click on HERE, or begin from the Starting.
