Remembering God is Greater Than Covid-19

After 430 years in slavery (Exodus 12:40), God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt and out from under Pharaoh's rule in a mighty display of His power, dominion and glory. He sent 10 horrendous plagues and parted the Red Sea allowing the Israelites to escape from slavery into freedom. When they were hungry God made bread fall from the sky-literally (Exodus 16:4). But, they quickly forgot, worried, complained and traded in the promises of God for broken cisterns that could not satisfy. 

I previously read through the book of Exodus with a critical and judgmental spirit regarding the Israelites journey. Do they not get it? Don't they know that God will always take care of them? Have they completely forgotten what He just did and what He will continue to do? But things have changed. In our world and in my heart.

I don't think it's a coincidence that I'm chronologically reading through the Bible right now and just so happen to be reading through the book of Exodus. I think God planned it this way. Now reading through Exodus my heart feels empathy towards the Israelites.  Although I can't relate to the Israelites's fear of where their water and food would come from, here lately my thoughts have been filled with a lot of "what-if" scenarios regarding Covid-19. I have seen more in common with myself and the Israelites over the past month than I have in my entire life. When this unexpected-to-us-circumstance (COVID-19) swept over our world and nation, worry began having a little party inside my heart and mind, leading me to forget, momentarily, about God's promises.

Francis Chan refers to the forgetfulness of God's promises and provisions as spiritual amnesia, an epidemic that none of us are immune to. You may be thinking, "If spiritual amnesia is inevitable than what can I do?" The author of Hebrews continually reminded them, "We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away (Hebrews 2:1). And again in Hebrews 3:6 and 3:14 he encourages them to "hold onto their original confidence." Why would the author continually remind the Israelites to hold onto what they already know to be true?  He knew they needed to be continually reminded to 1) remember who God is 2) remember what God has said 3) remember what God has done. The author of Hebrews knew the antidote for spiritual amnesia: remembering.

1. Remembering who God is. My almost 4year old daughter reminded me the importance of this a few nights ago. We were sitting on her bed getting ready to pray and she said, "Dear God, please make my boo-boo on my little finger all better. Okay I know you did. Thank you. Amen." What does this tell us about how she views the character God? She is praying to Him because she knows He will listen. He is a good listener. She is asking him to do something she knows He can do. He will make her boo-boo better. He is healer. She is speaking to Him like she is familiar with Him, like this isn't the first time she has come to Him. She knows He is a loving, good Father. I could go on and on about the characteristics of God, but one of my favorites to meditate on throughout the day has been, "God is Most High" (Psalm 83:18).  It has provided comfort to my soul to remember that God is the supreme ruler over all things and nothing, not even Covid-19 can knock Him of His throne. He is greater. 

2. Remembering what God has said. As a Christian, spending time with God in His word and through prayer are vital to your spiritual health. But, how can you remember what you do not know? In light of everything going on with Covid-19 it has been a struggle for me to prioritize my schedule in such a way that allows for time in the Word and prayer. I'm more exhausted physically, emotionally and spiritually. It has been a daily fight. But I will continue fighting to open my Bible even when I don't "feel like it" because I know my soul needs to be fed with God's truth. If you are feeling anything like me during this time let one of your main prayers be that God would create in you a heart that longs to continue drinking up His Word even when (and especially when) you don't feel like it. Why? Because we are no different than the Israelites. We are prone to forget and we need His daily reminders pointing to His truth and promises. 

Rich promises like:

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."
-Isaiah 43:2

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:19"

”Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High  will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress,my God, in whom I trust.’Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Psalm 91:4

3. Remembering what God has done.  In Joshua 3 we see how God, once again, parted the waters which provided access for the Israelites to walk through the Jordan River onto dry land.  They placed 12 stones from the riverbed and stacked them on the other side (Joshua 4), which served as a reminder to them and others of God's faithfulness and provision.  I believe God places "Stones of Remembrance" in our life because He knows we are prone to forget. Remembering what God has done in our past, give us hope and confidence to trust Him with our future. Can you think of any "stones of remembrance" in your life or perhaps a time you remember where God was with you in a very tangible way?

-Remember how God sustained you through a very difficult time.
-Remember how God healed you or a loved one from physical illness.
-Remember how God saved you from your sin and brought you into new life.
-Remember how God provided for you in a very specific way.
-Remember how God comforted you through a time of loss.

Our children cry in the middle of the night because they know mommy and daddy are coming to check on them. My son runs towards me with arms wide open from across the room because he is confident that I won't let him fall. How can they be so sure that we will follow through? Our children know us and their confidence in our response comes through remembering. 

Although there has been a great deal of uncertainty surrounding Covid-19 one thing we know for sure is this: we know the One who knows all things. When I get overwhelmed with the fear of what lies in front of me I like to think of God, as my loving Father, holding me on his shoulders, high above the crashing waves. In this time of unknown my prayer for you is that you would remember to remember.  Remember who God is. Remember what God has said. Remember what God has done. As stories of God's faithfulness come to mind, I hope it will provide you with the hope, strength and confidence you need to trust Him through the unknown and uncertainty in front of us.