By Caro April 26, 2024
The book of Deuteronomy is Moses' last pep-talk before Israel enters the Promised Land. His speech often repeats the same advice: “Remember”. If we want to make sure to have success in our new chapter, maybe we should apply this message too!
Alzheimer’s is a difficult disease for those around an affected person and even dangerous for that person. Wandering and disorientation, as well as the inability to manage their medication, often steal the last moments of their life. But it’s not just Alzheimer’s that can put us in danger. According to Moses, forgetting is dangerous even when we have no cognitive problems. That is why the patriarch was so keen to educate his people to regularly remember several aspects of their lives. He knew that forgetting could be deadly. “Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish” (Deuteronomy 8:19 NKJV).
There are things that we must certainly forget, or at least no longer bring to our memory, just as God did with our sins. We must choose not to dwell on the past if our goal is only to seek self-justification or revenge. Just like Paul, it is also good to put aside our human skills and seek the approval of God alone. It is good to forget the logic and human reasoning (Romans 12.2) which until now constituted the basis of our wisdom.
But, according to Moses, there are certain points that we should take the time to remember.
Remember where we come from
In Deuteronomy 5:15, Moses advises his people not to forget that God brought them out of Egypt, out of slavery. It is by remembering this deliverance that God’s commandments become easier to absorb. And it is the same with us: if we find God’s precepts difficult to follow, we must remember the deliverance we have had from sin. Or, if we notice that we are in a relationship that does not glorify God, let us remember how our previous similar relationship caused harm to our soul.
Remembering our victories
When we face great challenges, it is important to remember the victories God has given us thus far (Deuteronomy 7:18, Deuteronomy 8:17-18, Isaiah 44:21). It is when we remember that God has been with us in the past that we have strong hope for our future.
Remembering God’s Promises
Our faith is strengthened every time we read God’s Word (Romans 10:17) or hear it in a Christian gathering. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would bring to our memory what we have learned (John 14:26). Therefore, we must continually nourish ourselves with the promises and teachings of the Word.
Remembering lessons and our mistakes
We should not constantly beat ourselves up when we make mistakes, but we should not forget them either (Deuteronomy 9:7). Because, unfortunately, it is often from our mistakes that we learn the most valuable lessons. We can also keep in mind the mistakes of our parents or other sources so as not to repeat them ourselves! To ensure our new romantic relationship, it is better to remember the mistakes we made in our previous relationship so as not to repeat them.
Remembering our leaders
We often forget those! We don’t forget to criticize them, but praying for them or taking the time to thank them is often far from our thoughts. They are often discouraged and ready to give up: a little note of encouragement from us can be the balm that helps them continue (Colossians 4:3).
And of course, we must remember… God!
We are children of God, so let’s take advantage of this privilege! We are not alone in suffering, God is with us. We are not alone in our financial needs, God is there to respond with His provision or by helping us put our priorities in the right order. Finally, let’s not forget that we are not alone in our romantic relationship. God looks at us and wants to guide us in the right direction.