What Does God Remember?
Jan 21, 2021 at 6:11 AM
‘Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: “This is what the Lord says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.’”’ (Jeremiah 2:2, NIV)
‘Tell the people of Jerusalem, “The Lord says, I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness.”’ (Jeremiah 2:2, NLT Revised)
The phrase “the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me” in the Chinese Union Version doesn’t quite capture it. The English and the Revised Contemporary Translation are clearer. When reading, I was really moved. Every small moment of my past faith responses, God remembers. Even when, as the years go by, I’ve started to blur and forget.
I just finished reading Genesis and started on Exodus. Using my “critical” human sight, I wonder: were the “younger” Israelites truly passionate about God? Did they love Him like a bride loves a groom? From Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to Moses, they all had their issues and weaknesses. Let alone, the Israelites, complaining, bitter, and faithless in the wilderness and after the exodus.
Yet strangely, when God reminisces about His relationship with them, He doesn’t seem to recall their weaknesses due to “human limitations.” What He remembers are their few acts of faith and reliance on Him. Maybe because though Israel was in hardship, weakness, and complaint, they still worshiped and trusted God. Simply put, they hadn’t left Him yet. (But right after Jeremiah 2:4, God sternly lists Israel’s sins of leaving Him and idol worship.)
Brother Oswald Chambers said, ‘If your heart forgets what God cherishes, you won’t find joy.’ It’s true. Psalm 16, verse 2: “I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.’” Verse 4: “Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.”
I don’t want to forget what God treasures. I should do what God considers precious, to please Him. If not, it’s idol worship.
Thank God:
- Thank God for guidance. The family atmosphere has relaxed a bit, especially during the school drop-off and pick-up times. Truly, I’ve been more involved recently, now helping Anran with his homework around 6:30 in the evening. But I think this is God’s guidance. It’s humans who act, but changing one’s mindset to willingly do something is the Holy Spirit working within us.
- Communication with my daughter is more frequent, deeper, and naturally pleasant than before.
- Thank God for His word. God’s word is my strength and support.