The Curve of Forgetting
(Deuteronomy 4:9) Knowing humans tend to forget, God calls you to remember His mercy, actions, and covenants "all the days of your life."
Deutero-noma-what!?
Deuteronomy is a complex flavor: rich, deep, sweet, and smokey. Regarded as one of the central books of the Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible), it’s a book you will want to savor. Deuteronomy literally means “Second Law,” but not because there are two Torahs. Instead, it’s a retelling of God’s covenant & faithfulness as Moses exhorts Israel before entering the Promised Land.
I love reading Deuteronomy because it offers a great summary of God’s deeds to rescue His people. It also gives you some intimate windows into God’s heart and character.
Never Forget
“Only be watchful and watch over your soul closely, so you do not forget the things your eyes have seen and they slip from your heart all the days of your life. You are to make them known to your children and your children's children.”
Deuteronomy 4:9 (TLV)
Did your parents ever tell you stuff like, “One day, you will remember what I did for you all your life, and you will finally understand!”?
As young children, we don’t take these things seriously. But, as we get older and have our own families we realize, Dang, mom and dad were totally right! 😅
Like a good parent, God has been summarizing His amazing acts of love and redemption to His children:
- Freedom from the bondage of slavery.
- Redeemed by the blood of lambs at Passover.
- Rescued through the waters of the Red Sea.
- Led through the desert for 40 years with miraculous food and water provided along the way.
- Oh, and God’s mighty presence leading the way.
Even with all of these supernatural wonders, God is still needs to warn and to remind His children never to forget.
"Like a good parent, God has been summarizing His amazing acts of love and redemption to His children."
The Curve of Forgetting
The brain naturally forgets what it does not re-experience, meditate on, or prioritize.
As time slips by, we tend to forget things. It’s why we love nostalgia, photo albums, Facebook Memories, and family stories.
At the same time, we get comfortable. We allow time to erode our hearts and busyness to replace our emptiness.
We turn to lowercase gods, like many in Israel did long ago.
As we explore Deuteronomy, God’s words to Moses and His children still carry “eternal relevance” for us.
Our “eyes have seen” amazing things through Jesus, so we must “be watchful" and never forget the goodness and mercy of God.
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