Exodus 15:19-27, 16, 17:1-7; Matthew 22:1-33; Psalms 27:1-6; Proverbs 6:20-26

Reading through Exodus, these are the chapters where I start to get a little flabbergasted with the Israelities. Imagine watching the plagues afflict the Egyptians, being release from servitude, fleeing to the dessert, being followed by Pharoah’s army, crossing the red sea down the middle on dry land, only to then watch Pharoah’s army be destroyed by the waters, then complaining that the Lord was going to let you starve. At this point, when the Bible talks about their grumbling, I want to yell are you crazy? You really think the Lord did all of that just to let you suffer?

But they did think that, and they did complain to Moses about it. And I am reminded of how often I myself act like an Israelite in my day to day life.

I think it’s natural for us to focus on the here and now. This is the moment we are currently experiencing, the pain or happiness that we are actively feeling. The past is the past, and our brains actively discard much of what we experience daily. I find this sad, but also a challenge to try to remember the great events and blessings we experience. It makes sense, knowing the state of our brains, that we would forget the amazing ways the Lord has brought us through situations or blessed us due to the pain of the present moment. We are programed to forget, which makes it so much more important that we take the time to remember.

I think of the example of first time mothers right after birth. In the haze of newborn sleep patterns and learning to care for a tiny, defenseless human, women remember vividly the experience of childbirth and may think never again. Then 6 months later, their body is healing, they are starting to feel better physically, but they are still caring for a little being with many sleepless nights. They might have a harder time recalling the exact experience, but they know generally how they felt and what they experienced. Fast forward two years: maybe they are sleeping through the night, their adorable child is talking and laughing, they feel great physically and feel like they have a handle on motherhood. That’s when our sneaky little brains creep up and say, “well, maybe we CAN do it again.” We’ve had the time and separation between our present moment and the event that is birth, but we also understand that it’s one moment in time for a lifetime of a sweet, wonderful human being who will call us mama.

Our brains are designed to let go of information that is not useful to us, and we know that it takes incredible willpower to overcome pain and remember blessing. Which is why we should make it a daily spiritual practice. The Israelites were in some ways choosing to ignore the blessings and deep care they had received because of the current pain in front of them. They chose not to trust the Lord to provide, despite the numerous large and amazing examples of how the Lord had taken care of them and lead them up to that point.

Today I’d encourage you to ask the Lord to highlight three big things in your life that He’s helped you through or blessed you with. Write them on an index card and stick them in your wallet, bedside table, somewhere you will stumble upon it again in the future. If right now you are going through something hard, ask the Lord how you can trust Him to care for you in the same way He cared for you during those blessings. If right now if a happy time, where you feel encouraged and taken care of, put that card away for a time when you’ll need it. Life cycles us through highs and lows, and we can know that we will come back to a time when we need these reminders.

Instead of acting like the Israelities and asking God where He is and why He’s abandoned us, let’s commit to remembering that He is with us, He cares for us, and He will continue to guide and bless us despite our outward circumstances.