Lent Day 5–Remember, Don’t Forget

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands (Deuteronomy 8:2).

In Deuteronomy, a book that the Jewish Bible simply calls Devarim (meaning words), Moses gives a farewell address to the people who will enter into the Promised Land.  Moses will not be allowed to enter and will die in Moab, yet he reminisces about the goodness of God and His promises for Israel’s future. 

A central theme of Deuteronomy is encouragement to remember and not to forget.  While that might seem like the same encouragement coming and going, there is an important distinction which we see in Chapter 8.  In Deut 8:2, Israel was to remember that God faithfully led them in the desert for 40 years; their clothes never wore out; neither did their sandals; they had food to eat; and water to drink.  Day after day for 40 years God was faithful.  Every day for 40 years, God ensured they would have no doubt His hand had delivered them.  He was continually delivering them.  Forty years… the full lifetime of everyone under the age of 40!  God had proven His faithfulness every day of their lives.  This was grace in the desert.

But grace in the desert had a purpose (verse 2): to humble them and test their hearts so they would be prepared to keep His commands…even as they experienced prosperity.  In verse 18, God reminds them neither grace nor wealth are earned.  Both are a gift from the hand of God.

They weren’t to remember the testing per se but only what God proved by it: He is faithful and He is good!

Remember God’s role, but the other point of the message was “Don’t forget.”  This was their responsibility.  Don’t forget to obey God because it has consequences.  In verse 19, the mounting case of “pride goes before the fall” warns of a dramatic conclusion: they would be destroyed.  Disobedience has consequences.

God did His part for 40 years demonstrating His faithfulness— a fact worth remembering!  But entering a land of promise and temptation, wealth and idolatry, obedience and destruction, they were not to forget their role:  to observe the commands of the Lord, walk in His ways, and revere Him (verse6).

Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day (Deuteronomy 8:11).

Are you more likely to remember the tests over what God proved by them?

Have you remembered that every blessing is a gift from God?

Is there anything you’re forgetting?