Embedded in human nature is a tendency to forget, and nothing seems to disappear quicker than gratitude.
As a result, Moses warned the Israelites to remember the commandments he put before them. He wanted them to flourish—the commandments were not meant to be onerous but were for their good. Moses knew, though, that they would forget God’s law and walk in their own way.
To help the Israelites remember, Moses recounted the blessings God had bestowed upon them in the wilderness despite the fact that they were disobedient and were being disciplined. God provided manna and water for them, showing their dependence on Him and not on their own strength. It would have been impossible for them to survive on their own in the wilderness, but God sustained them.
Every day, a miracle took place in front of the Israelites, but they failed to see it. They grew weary and took God’s provision for granted. Because of this, Moses reminded them of all that God had done for them.
Review to Remember
Truth is well worth reviewing. Like the Israelites, we can forget God’s goodness and grace, looking to our own strength to provide for us. But we will ultimately fail, whereas He will not.
Jesus reminds us of the importance of meditating on God’s Word when He quotes Deuteronomy 8:3, which says, “Man does not live by bread alone” (see Matthew 4:4). Jesus knew we needed more than physical provision. We need spiritual sustenance in order to remember to be grateful to God. This material world, after all, will pass away, but God’s Word will not pass away.
Looking at Moses’s warning and Jesus’s example, we need to cultivate a spiritual appetite. We need to yearn for the truth of God’s Word and will, seeking after Him constantly in order to remember Him in every moment.
Looking for a daily devotional to help you remember God? Try Daily Growth.
Watch part 106 of the 365 Key Chapters of the Bible series, based on Ken’s Handbook to Scripture.
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