When God speaks to the Israelites he reminds them of the miraculous God he is, by reminding them of what He has done in their past. To put it simply, one of many things He has done is: He saved them from slavery in Egypt and then split the Red Sea to help them escape that life forever. In many awesome ways, He provided for all their needs in their wilderness journey.
As I was reading through Deuteronomy 5, my eyes stopped at verse 15, which says “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore, the Lord your God commanded you to keep the sabbath.” As I read scripture, I have trained myself to stop and read a little more carefully, to understand what the word therefore is there for? It struck me, that the scriptures connected the Sabbath with remembering God and the mighty works He did for His people.
With God making each person uniquely, we might find different activities restful. Some might find it restful to watch a movie, go for a walk, take a nap, etc. All of these things are good in and of themselves, but we all also need a deep rest within our souls. Finding time with God, is the one and only way to find the deep rest that we long for. As a Christian, we must make the time to intentionally rest by reading God’s word and also by remembering God’s faithfulness by the ways He has helped you personally.
For myself personally, when I recall what God has done in my life, it re-sparks my faith and provides rest that my soul thirsts for. The memories of the His testimonies remind me that He is living and active and directing every detail of my life. The recollection of His presence and past guidance gives my heart and soul rest from fear, anxiety, overwhelm, striving, confusion, etc., in any circumstance. His past faithfulness in my life inspires me to put it all back into His hands where there is supernatural peace, comfort, and rest.
Without taking the time to remember His faithfulness, I know that I am prone to forgot. I think that’s why we see God commanding the Israelites, time and time again, to remember all that He has done. Even in the New Testament Peter says, “Therefore, I will remind you about these things–even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught. And it is only right that I should keep reminding you as long as you live“.
Being Intentional to Remember God’s Faithfulness
I am confident that God is with me, even when I unconsciously make a mistake. He is with me as I clean the house, run errands, go for a run, etc. I am often passively aware of the amazing presence of God. However, there is something more than just awareness, but rather to intentionally dwelling on what makes Him so wonderful. Besides, His goodness, kindness, grace, and faithfulness; there is also His numerous and ongoing miracles, redemption power, unlimited wisdom, divine sovereignty, and so, so, so much more.
Much beyond my own life, I like to remember all of His wonderous deeds and righteous character that is exemplified to His people throughout scripture. For me personally, when I ponder on the Red Sea splitting, bread falling from heaven, water struck from a rock, fire in the cloud over the tabernacle — my imagination of these historical events ignites something within my heart and reminds me of the amazing God I am living for. It is humbling and it encourages me to keep enduring to put His words into practice in my life, because He is worthy and He makes this life on earth worth something. If my life is not for Him or lived through Him, then it is all in vain. Psalm 73:25-26 says it best — Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire beside you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. He is beyond worthy of my trust, my surrender, and my submission. His Book of Remembrance (the bible), helps me to actively and intentionally remember who He is.
Making Scripture Personal – God’s personal faithfulness to you
Reminders of what God has done should advise his people of why He can be trusted and why they should be inclined to obey Him. It should remind them of His goodness towards them, which should ignite them to put their trust and faith in Him. It should remove the fear of what is before them and instill confidence in a God who can work wonders on their behalf.
These particular events of being delivered from Egypt and the Red Sea miracle are mentioned numerous times as they moved throughout the wilderness, to remind and encourage them to keep persevering to trust God and put confident faith in Him. These particular events are repeated so often, that its as if they are a foundational reminder in their life-journey with God. I truly believe that remembering the work God has accomplished in your life, helps you stay firm in your faith in Christ.
Similarly, I feel that God does a similar principle with my husband and I in our personal faith/life journey. When there is something in my life that causes me to fret, often times I’m reminded of our moving story and all that God did throughout that chapter of our life. I truly believe God is the one who brings it to my mind, as if He is saying “remember the Lord your God who moved you across the country and provided for you – your house and your land”. When I remember the details of our story and what seemed impossible to us, I am infused with the faith that God will continue to help us in our current circumstances. There is nothing to fear. I can move forward in peace as long as I keep resting my mind on Him, by remembering the Almighty God who has been, and still is, living and active in my life.
Remembering God Faithfulness cultivates a heart of thankfulness
To be honest, there have been times when I have not remembered and it led to fretting and striving.
Only through having an open and honest heart am I able to recognize the moments that I am fretting or striving in my own strength. If/When I recognize this, it is only then I have the opportunity to turn to God in prayer, and cast all my burdensome feelings unto Him. Prayers softens my heart and gives me the ability to remember that God will work all things for good, for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28). Then, as soon as I remember how profoundly God used the Romans 8:28 scripture since the beginning of my journey with Him, thankfulness is revived in my heart and fretting or disappointment is removed.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to be thankful in all circumstances. My initial thought of this scripture is that it is impossible to do. However, when we recall all that God has done in our life, having thankfulness in all circumstance is possible!
What are your personal foundational reminders of God’s faithfulness in your life? What are some things God has done that you are thankful for? Comment below!
Foundational reminders of the Red Sea crossing throughout scripture
Psalm 77:19
Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.
Joshua 2:10
For we have heard how the LORD made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we
know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you
completely destroyed.
Joshua 4:23
For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over.
Joshua 24:6-7 NLT
But when your ancestors arrived at the Red Sea, the Egyptians chased after you with chariots and charioteers.[7] When your ancestors cried out to the LORD, I put darkness between you and the Egyptians. I brought the sea crashing down on the Egyptians, drowning them. With your very own eyes you saw what I did. Then you lived in the wilderness for many years.
Acts7:36
He led them out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the wilderness.
Hebrews 11:29
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
Isaiah 43:16
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters,
Isaiah 51:10
Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea for the redeemed to cross over?
Psalm 106:22
…such awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
Psalms 136:13
Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 77:16
When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths.
Habakkuk 3:15
You trampled the sea with Your horses, churning the great waters.
Deuteronomy 11:4
what he did to the Egyptian army, to its horses and chariots, how he overwhelmed them with the waters of the Red Sea as they were pursuing you, and how the LORD brought lasting ruin on them.
Judges 11:16
But when they came up out of Egypt, Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea and on to Kadesh.
Nehemiah 9:9
You saw the suffering of our ancestors in Egypt; you heard their cry at the Red Sea.struck me
Do you find it difficult to remember His faithfulness in your life?
I created a journaling guide, that I hope would encourage you to start writing down your thoughts and your walk with God.
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