Don’t Forget It

Are memories important?  Yes, unfortunately, sometimes we remember the memories we should forget, and forget the memories we should remember. 

In the last lesson we discussed Exodus 12 where the Israelites (estimated to have been two million) began their new journey to their promised land. They were delivered and got their instructions, but it does not make sense at times.  Even though God had his plan, they had to believe, be obedient and trust in that plan.  They had to still face and fight their enemies, keep the right attitude, and make right choices in their daily walk.  Listening is one thing but obeying demonstrates our faith.  

In Exodus 13, they were to establish the Festival of Unleavened Bread.  We see where things looked differently than they expected.  Unreal or false expectations always get us into trouble in our personal lives, relationships and in our calling and ministry.  When trouble comes, we can forget our blessings.

How can we not forget our past and move forward in his miracles?

1. REMEMBER GOD’S MIRACLES 

Exodus 13:3 So Moses said to the people, “This is a day to remember forever – the day you left Egypt, the place of your slavery.”

• STAY ALERT AND SEEK OUT GOD’S WORKING.

The firstborn sons belonged to God in a special way because He spared them as they applied the blood to their doorposts.  The dedication practice is described in Verse 13-16 as a reminder to us of God’s miracles and deliverance.

• STAY ALERT AND THANK GOD FOR HIS MIRACLES.

We get so caught up in “living, doing and being busy” we can fail to see His great miracles of deliverance today in our lives. When I look back, I am amazed at His miracles that changed me, my family and ministry forever.

2. REMEMBER GOD BROUGHT YOU OUT.

Exodus 13:3 Today the Lord has brought you out.

• THEY WERE IN BONDAGE.

Exodus 2:23 The children of Israel groaned because of the BONDAGE, and they cried out: and their cry came up to God because of their bondage. 

We see how God’s people were in bondage under the severe rule of Egypt and their leaders.  This had happened for many years, and they needed to be delivered.

• WE WERE IN BONDAGE.

We need to remember how we were slaves to sin and in bondage to our mindset and desires.

Galatians 5:1 – Let me be clear, the Anointed One has set us free-not partially, but completely and wonderfully free!  We must always cherish this truth and stubbornly refuse to go back into the BONDAGE of our past.

We must not submit our lives to legalist rulers regardless of how right arguments in their favor may seem.

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of BONDAGE again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father.

The Holy Spirit gives us assurance that we have freedom as the children of God and we have our Abba, Father God!

• ONLY GOD COULD BRING US OUT.  

It was by His mighty hand (His plan works).  We now can share that plan to others as we show His freedom!

3. REMEMBER TO CELEBRATE

Exodus 13:5 You must celebrate this event in this month each year.

• THIS WAS ONGOING.

You must keep celebrating this event.  When we focus on remembering, we will be grateful and celebrate.

• WE HAVE MUCH TO CELEBRATE.

What marks you a child of God?  The way you raise your children, demonstrate love for others, show concern for the poor, and live devoting yourself to God -these actions will leave visible marks for all to see.

After all, we learn and teach others the principles we learn.

• REMEMBER AS YOU CELEBRATE, YOU CONTINUE TO FIGHT YOUR ENEMY.

Exodus 13: 5 As you celebrate you will come into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites. You must fight your enemy but keep celebrating as you know your enemy. I have made a plan.

• WE ARE ON THE OFFENSIVE NOT DEFENSIVE.

I Timothy 6:12 So fight with faith for the winner’s prize!  Lay your hands upon eternal life, for this is your calling -celebrating in faith before the multitude of witnesses.

This was Paul’s final instruction to his son, the one he mentored and taught.  The final words are always the “most important.”  This is the key to spiritual growth and personal fulfillment. We each have a choice to fight our enemy and know He is fighting with us and for us.

Exodus 14:14-15 Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid.  Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today.  The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.  The Lord will fight for you.  Just stay calm.” 

Joshua 23:10 The Lord your God fights for you.

Look up, if this would be the only reason, we could celebrate.  When do we ever have to fight alone?  Maybe we have felt that it was up to us, but the battle is the Lords.  Let’s CELEBRATE.

4. REMEMBER THE PROMISE IS REAL.

Exodus 13:5 He swore to your ancestors that he would give you this land- a land flowing with milk and honey.

• REMEMBER WHAT HE PROMISED.

So many times, we see the problem not the promise!  How human we are, we go by our feelings and by what we see not by what we know!

• TELL THESE PROMISES TO YOUR CHILDREN.

Exodus 13:14 And in the future, your children will ask you, “What does all this mean?”  Then you will tell them, “With the power of his mighty hand, the Lord brought us out of Egypt, the place of our slavery.”

What a challenge for us to tell the promises to our children!  Do our children know God’s deliverance and promise to us? I know this sounds difficult, but this should be part of our lifetime project.  As a grandmother and great grandmother now, I still have a responsibility to give my family (legacy) the stories of God’s blessings, miracles and promises for all. 

CONCLUSION:

This Festival of Unleavened Bread marked the Hebrews as a unique people -as though they were branded on their hands and foreheads. This is a reminder how God says to REMEMBER AND NOT FORGET WHAT HE HAS DONE.

This looked forward to the day when Jesus Christ would buy us back by paying the price for our sin once and for all.  Now we have “one life” to share this story and tell our world.  

God wanted his people to remember how God spared their sons from death and freed them all from slavery.  

REFLECT:  What situation are you facing that you need to be set free, and walk joyfully in your freedom?  This is so important as leaders to be free and as we help others to be free. This will continue to happen in our lives as we “remember”.  It is a reminder for me to remember, celebrate and claim his promises.