Exodus 13:3
“And Moses said to the people: “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out of this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten.”
A few minutes ago I was holding a family history of the Thompson family which stretches back to the 1700’s in Ulster, Northern Ireland. I am sure you have seen photographs taken back in that era. It seemed to be a sin to smile, so there are a lot of somber looking saints (or sinners) looking into the lens of the camera. I came to realize that I have a rich heritage of Bible believing forebears.
It has caused me to consider the idea of remembering. There is great value in remembering some things and harm in recalling others. I think of Hebrews chapter eleven where we are reminded of the heroes of faith that have gone before us: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Sampson and David as well as others who willingly died for their faith. It is good to remember that these people were not plaster saints, but living breathing (and in some cases dying saints of the Most High God).
The children of Israel had experienced a wonderful miracle in their deliverance. God brought them out with great wealth and provided them with His divine protection. The miracle of the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire be night was only the beginning.
He parted the Red Sea so they could cross on dry ground, but closed the same waters on the advancing Egyptian army so that their enemies were completely destroyed. He provided water in a dry desert land, and fed them with manna and quail. There were many other miracles as well.
The day of deliverance was a great day to be remembered, but there was also a land to be possessed. On the boarder of the land flowing with milk and honey, they believed the report of ten spies instead of trusting God to fulfill His promise to them. THEY HAD A DAY TO REMEMBER, BUT THEY DID NOT POSSESS THE LAND GOD HAD GIVEN THEM!
That entire generation of fearful Israelites perished in the hot dry sands of the desert without possessing the land that was theirs by God’s decree. They died remembering but not possessing. How about you? Are you spending your days remembering the past or serving in the present?
I pray that we may look forward in expectation to possess all that the Lord has prepared for us. May we gain inspiration from the prayer that Jabez prayed in I Chronicles 4:10: “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.”
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil