DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Remember
by Mary Alice McGinnis
Over the past couple of weeks, we have been focused on God’s Covenant. Each story of the Patriarchs has exemplified how God was exceedingly faithful to His promise.
It seems to me that the call to “remember” has been a recurring theme.
“Remember the wonders He (God) has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced.” Psalms 105:5
Today’s section of Psalm 105 brings our attention to “remembering” the miraculous wonders God did for His people through His servant, Moses.
Setting the stage, God used Moses and a series of 10 plagues to free His people from slavery in Egypt, which they had endured for over 400 years.
Did you hear that? Over 400 years of oppressive slavery! It must have seemed that they would never be free from the clutches of Pharaoh. Yet God remembered His Covenant. Indeed, He had never forgotten!!
Look at how God sustained them and provided for them as He led them out of Egypt into the wilderness.
David invites us to remember:
“He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold. . .” After the last plague - the death of all the firstborn of every household - Egyptians were exceedingly eager to rid the Israelites from their land. So eager in fact that they gave them all their gold and silver. Who caused that to happen? God did!! He was providing for them.
“. . .and from among their tribes no one faltered.” This people, all who had been beaten down and oppressed for over 400 years had the stamina and resilience to walk extensively long periods of time as they followed God. Who caused that to happen? God did!! He gave them His strength.
“He spread out a cloud as a covering. . .” He covered them and led them with His continual presence in the heat of each day.
“. . .and a fire to give light at night.” Even in the darkness of night, His presence never left them. Who caused that cloud to appear by day and the pillar of fire by night? God did!! He gave them protection and guidance.
“They asked, and He brought them quail, He fed them well with the bread of heaven.” Notice David does not recall the Israelites failure to TRUST God’s provision for them. He does not even mention that they were GRUMBLING and COMPLAINING against God when He had faithfully given them the manna from heaven each day. Who provided quail for them to eat, and manna from heaven? God did!! He continued to shower them with His faithful provision and goodness, even when they did not deserve it.
“He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert.”
Notice again that David does not mention Moses’ anger against the Israelites when they insisted that they were better off in Egypt and were bent on picking a new leader to help them return. In Moses’ anger, he disobeyed God and struck the rock. But David only recalls here the faithfulness and enduring mercy of God. Who provided water for them even when they were ready to turn back? Even when their human leader failed to obey? God did!! His provision for them GUSHED OUT like a wild river flowing in the desert!
“For He remembered His holy promise given to His servant Abraham.”
PRAYER PRACTICE
Journaling Prayer – Take 5 minutes right now to do this exercise.
- One the far-left side of your paper put your birthdate.
- On the far-right side of your paper put today’s date.
- Draw a line from your birth date to today’s date.
- Add an arrow pointing to the right after today’s date to signify your life is not yet over.
- On your timeline, place dates/times in your life that were high points.
- Next, on your timeline, place dates/times that were low points, where hardships arose.
As you look at your timeline, lift your heart in prayer. Ask God to show you where He provided for you, sustained you, guided you, abundantly supplied you. Perhaps add some notes to your timeline of what came to mind.
Ask God to bring to mind all the ways He has shown Himself faithful to His covenant toward you, even in spite of yourself.
Jesus, our Savior, the rock of our salvation and our ever flowing stream of living water. He is the fulfillment of God's Covenant love toward us! Praise the Lord!!
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