Remember the Lord

Author: Joseph

Date: January 27, 2019

Before Moses died, he retold the entire history of Israel from the time they left Egypt up until the present moment. All those of the generation that left Egypt had already died and a new generation was listening to Moses as he spoke. They may have heard from their fathers what happened beforehand, but now Moses was able to reveal the whole truth to them.

"...reveal the whole truth..."

God had never forsaken Israel and those that remained faithful to Him received the land of promise.

When Moses recounted Israel’s history, he pleaded with them to never forsake the Lord. Moses’s words can be summarized, “Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons… Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the LORD, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other” (Deuteronomy 4:9, 39).

Israel was told their history and it was not for themselves, but it was to remember the Lord. When you recount your own past, you should do the same.

When you remember your past, do you remember the deeds of the Lord and how He affected your life? For the times of your disobedience, you may remember regret, pain, and events of great distress. For the times of your faithfulness to Him, you may recall confidence in Him, comfort in great trials, and moments of great relief knowing God was in control.

The greatest inheritance we can give to those that come after us is knowing the Lord and remembering His wonderful deeds. When Moses recounts Israel’s history, he does so by remembering the deeds of God and how Israel was either successful in their faith or failed in their sin. The history of the people was inseparable from God’s involvement and to tell the history without Him would have failed to tell the truth.

The children that would come after the Israelites entered the land of promise would also ask about their family’s history. Moses told Israel to instruct their children in all of God’s deeds and to remember that He is the Lord.

When we tell our story and when others ask us about our past, it is important to relate God’s deeds and how He is the Lord. Any telling of ourselves that does not include God does no good to the listener. It would be better not to speak at all if we are unable to exhibit God’s presence in our lives. If we are not glorifying God in our story, then we are giving glory to something else – and God’s name is wrongly diminished and dishonored.

Next time you are given the opportunity to tell someone about your story, whether a child, a friend, a co-worker, or anyone who is willing to listen, remember the Lord and tell of His wonderful deeds in your life. You will not only bring good to others, but you will also reaffirm your faith in Him knowing He has always been with you and has never forsaken you.

Bible Passage: Deuteronomy 1:1 – 4:40

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB). www.lockman.org