Many times in the Bible, God commands His people to set up memorials, establish traditions, and keep records in order to remember the good things He has done for them. A New Testament example is the Last Supper, which Jesus told His disciples to do routinely in order to remember His sacrifice (Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Exodus is replete with examples of God setting up reminders for His people, starting with the Passover, when God leads the Israelites out of their bondage in Egypt.
Chapter 16 of Exodus tells how the Israelites grumble against Moses for taking them out of Egypt to starve, and God responds by sending them quail in the evening and manna in the morning (Exodus 16:13-15). God then says to keep some of the manna in a jar and preserve it for generations to come so that the Israelites will remember how God provided for them in the desert (Exodus 16:32-33).
Chapter 17 tells how the Amalekites attack Israel, and God gives Israel victory (Exodus 17:8-16 - it's a good story, could be the subject of a whole new blog post). God tells Moses to write it down so that it will be remembered (verse 14).
Sandwiched in between these two miracles that God performs on Israel's behalf, and these two ways that God attempts to keep the miracles in Israel's memory, is an account of the Israelites complaining again. They have no water and are going to die of thirst. Apparently they don't remember how God sent plagues on Egypt, parted the Red Sea, or gave them bread from heaven, and they think this is the end of the road. They're angry with God and with Moses. Moses asks God what he is to do, and God tells him to strike a rock, and out of it comes water (Exodus 17:1-7).
As I read these stories, I am baffled at how quickly the Israelites forget God's goodness and how easily they are convinced that not following Him would be better (Exodus 16:3). And yet, I do the same.
God gives me clear direction, such as when He led me to go to Honduras for a time. There was so much confirmation and providence. But a couple of weeks in Honduras, and I realized it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I began to wallow in discontentment and question whether I could really stay there. Yet God was faithful, and the entire two-and-a-half years I was there, He provided for my needs, albeit at the last minute to teach me dependence on Him.
God blesses me beyond measure - a wonderful family, a great education, work, a car, a computer, an amazing husband... But then something happens. My job doesn't turn out to be so wonderful. My car dies. I have to wait in line at the grocery store, for goodness' sake. And suddenly my thoughts are focused on what's not right in my life instead of on the One who makes all things work together for good.
So I have a proposal. How about every time a negative thought enters my head, I counter it with a positive one... I'm so bored at work*... Thank God I have a job and more than enough money to live on. How about when I start to worry about what could go wrong, I bring to remembrance the good things God has done...My car is old, and it's making sounds that scare me. What if it needs a really expensive repair? How will I afford it?...Remember that time in Honduras when I didn't know how I'd pay for the next week's groceries? Then God dropped $500 in my lap.
Give it a try. Pay attention to your thoughts, and the next negative thought that comes up, replace it with something positive. Remember God's goodness.
*Note - The boredom at work does not refer to my current job, nor to any of my teaching jobs.
"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7
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