Remembering What God has Done prepares us for thanksgiving
Memories link our past to our present and weave yesterday into tomorrow. But in the middle of today, in the really good times and the very hard times, how often do we forget what God has done for us. We are called in the Hebrew tradition to ‘Make present God’ accounting for his presence and building altars to serve as a signpost of memorial that mark “God showed up here”.
Remembering is a crucial part of thanksgiving.
In Deuteronomy. 6:12 Moses issued a final warning to Israel just before they entered the promise land, “beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt…”
In our prosperity we are warned in Proverb 30 to pray and ask “give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Moses built an altar and named it “The Lord is my Banner” Exodus 17:15.
Joshua was charged to have the 12 leaders of Israel build a memorial from the stones of the Jordan Joshua 4
He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 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. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”
Samuel, set up a monument to remind Israel of God’s strong hand in victory naming the pillar Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us”. This stone pillar called God’s people to recall, and remember often, the time when God turned things from bad to blessed. Seeing the stone they remembered God’s help in the past, God’s presence relied on today, and God’s hope assured for tomorrow. The Ebenezer was a “picture” of the Lord’s readiness to hear their cries and save them, and it served to remind them where to turn for their strength and power—and whom to thank for their deliverance.
The psalmists built a similar monument with songs. Songs help us remember words. Many of the Psalms chronicled the history of God’s people and their Great God by helping people remember what God had done. They praised God for his faithfulness, deliverance victory and forgiveness. They prompt us to recount things that really happened. Don’t you remember, God lead you out of bondage in Egypt? Didn’t he feed you in the desert and keep doing so, even though you grumbled and complained? How many times has he forgiven your repeated idolatry and wandering? Victories, don’t you recall all the times God won for us and overcame the enemy? And if he did so much for you in the past, can’t you depend on him to do as much, if not more, for you today? And why are you worrying about tomorrow? Won’t he still be there for you, hearing your pleas for help, acting on your behalf? Psalm 78 tells us “I will utter hidden things, things from of old, things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us to help you remember … to remind you of God’s power … to give you trust and confidence in him … to teach you to lean on him … to be your Ebenezer for as long as you live until heaven.
Unlike the commemorative Biblical memorials, your Ebenezer—your stone of help— your banner or signpost, requires you gather not stones but memories together and recall the many and varied victories God has given you. You might begin by remembering the gifts of life-parents, siblings, mentors and coaches, Youth leaders, camp counselors, pastors, teachers-all those God surrounded you with to grow up. Your memories could include the blessings of education, friends, a profession and your communities of faith that disciple you. Especially recount certain events in your life—times of celebration and success and times when God turned what appeared to be disaster and turned them into an unexpected opportunity, or times of failure when he rebuilt you and times of hardship when you gained maturity. This year’s highlights, the season of transformation you are currently moving in and what God has done most recently. Making present God turns you away from fear, doubt, and disbelief today, because you realize once again how many times in the past God has forgiven, protected, helped and healed you and the hope you have in tomorrow’s provisions.
The meaning of the Hebrew word for memorial is “to remember.” Today our “Ebenezer” stone is Christ. In the form of His cross, your Ebenezer-Thus far the Lord has helped me- stands as an eternal memorial that God has given you the victory of all victories! He has overcome, making all things new and is with you always. Through the cross, Christ has won atonement and redemption, and eternal life with him. His cross assures that past sins are forgiven completely and sins of today and in the future will be forgiven as well. We stand in Christ, righteous.
Remember your very best days and your worst failures. And see God there. Memories reveal God’s presence, even if you didn’t realize it at the time. God was with you, there. There are no coincidences. God is governing this world. Thus far the Lord has helped me-He is sovereign. He is Immanuel- with me God.
Just as God has been with us yesterday, memories remind us of what God has done. His presence is our peace in each moment to help and strengthen us so renew your commitment to live for him today.God has forgiven and restored us yesterday, worked in us with sanctifying power today, and He is our hope in the future for glorification.
Remembering what God has done prepares our hearts to live a life of thanksgiving.
4jlkelly 