3.31.24 Willisburg Bulletin
Forgetting God
How soon do you forget about God? We usually look at the Israelites with criticism; however, they struggled with serving God wholeheartedly in every situation, just as we do. God had to remind them quite often, “I am the Lord your God” and would state all that He had done for them because they had forgotten. We read their story and say, “how could they just forget God, look at everything He provided,” yet sometimes we are the ones who go days without thanking God, talking to Him, listening to Him. It’s almost as if we’ve disregarded Him as our Lord, just like the Israelites. Just as He reminded them, He reminds us too. He doesn’t speak to us directly now, but He does work providentially. There are times He grabs your attention to remind you He is the Lord and you shouldn’t be losing focus. It might be that He uses your disappointments as His appointments with Him. Maybe He using a circumstance you are in to find your way back to Him. Maybe He is vividly seen in some situation to make you step back. Maybe He uses someone that stops you in your tracks from going in the wrong direction spiritually. Sometimes we can’t pinpoint exactly what He is doing and it may take 20/20 vision to be sure it was Him, but He is working and He does still give us reminders!
Exodus Story
Yahweh, the I AM, the forever existing one (Exo3:14), used His power and His people to fulfill His plan! After all, He was the God that brought the Israelites out of slavery in the land of Egypt and all He sought was their surrendered obedience. He knew they were imperfect, so He “fought for them” (Exo 14:14) EVERY SINGLE TIME, even when it was humanly impossible. He equipped Moses with all He needed to lead the people in chapter 3. He protected His people through all the plagues in Egypt in chapters 7-12. He provided pillars (cloud & fire) for them to follow in chapter 13. He parted the Red Sea and destroyed their enemies in chapter 14. He fed them manna from Heaven EVERY morning for 40 YEARS! Yet, the Israelites still got impatient, forgot God, and turned to idols. But He used every situation for His good. He even told them, “do not be afraid, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (14:13). Pharaoh’s heart was hardened in order for God’s name to “be declared in all the earth” (9:16). Jethro was converted because of Moses’ example (18:9-12). And even though the golden calf was made, God showed mercy and love with an opportunity to willfully give of their means and use their talents to build the tabernacle. However, God cared about the details, even down to the smallest measurement and fabric for the tabernacle and the blood on the big toe for the consecration of the preists. The tabernacle where they sacrificed to Him, would be the place where His promise would come full circle and He would dwell with them (29:45 -> 40:34-35) as a sign that He never left them in the first place. What a confidence God gives to His people that bolsters above any fleshly weakness.
Our Story
There are so many similarities throughout the Israelites lives that are relatable to us, which is why it’s so important to read the Scriptures (Romans 15:4). It’s easy to get caught up in the world and forget God. It’s not hard to start losing focus on the finish line, especially if it seems far away, but it’s also not hard to find God and it’s definitely not hard to refocus. It just takes us making it a priority to remember the promise He has given us. It will come full circle, but we must be ready!