Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments. — Deuteronomy 8:11
One of my favorite Far Side cartoons is captioned “Superman in his later years.” It shows the elderly Man of Steel perched on a window ledge, ready to leap, as he looks back and says, “Now where was I going?”
Forgetfulness happens to us all, and while our occasional lapses may be amusing or annoying, a lack of memory toward God can be disastrous.
With the people of Israel poised to enter the Promised Land, Moses challenged them to “remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these 40 years in the wilderness” (Deut. 8:2) and to “beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments” (v. 11).
Forgetting God can spring from: Testing (vv. 2-4). God allowed His people to hunger and then provided manna. When we lack the necessities of life, it’s easy to feel that God has somehow forgotten us. Satisfaction (vv. 10-11). Abundance or need may produce spiritual amnesia because both cause us to focus on ourselves, not on God who provides. Pride (vv. 12-16). If prosperity brings a feeling of self-accomplishment, then we have forgotten God.
Humility, obedience, and praise help us remember God’s faithful provision and care. Let’s not forget to thank Him today for all He’s done. — David McCasland
Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony,
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary. — Hussey
READ: Deut. 8:1-2, 10-18
Never let the abundance of God’s gifts cause you to forget the Giver.
The Bible in one year:
• Deuteronomy 8-10
• Mark 11:19-33