Remember for the Sake of Others

Through the spectacular miracle of the Passover, God led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, where they had been for 430 years. He had performed miracle after miracle, until, finally, Pharaoh and the Egyptians feared the Lord, giving the Israelites gold, silver, and clothing on their way out of town. No doubt, spirits must have been high among the Israelites leaving Egypt. I can only imagine the emotion and celebration as they left the country. Parents happy for the future life of their kids, as now they had hope, no more slavery.

Immediately upon leaving the country, through the prompting of God, Moses implements an annual ordinance commemorating the day of deliverance.

Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out. And when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this service in this month. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory. Exodus 13:3-7

Moses wanted all the people to remember what God had done. He knew the danger of forgetting the miracle of God, especially with the children and future generations. Emphasis is put on the adults to teach the children. In fact, the reason for the memorial was so that generations would remember the mighty acts of God.

You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ Exodus 13:8

And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Exodus 13:13-14

The emphasis placed on remembering is critical for the faith of God to be passed down from generation to generation, helping us know that the God of the past is also the God of the future. The way He delivered in the past is the way He will deliver in the future. Remembrance of God and His presence, His miraculous acts, gives one hope for the future. When things aren’t going well, remembering God stills the soul, provides peace knowing He is with you. Remembering is a critical piece of our faith.

We live in a fast culture. We have fast lives, and we are not good at remembering God’s past blessings on our life. God shows up in a mighty way, orchestrates an event, heals a sickness, provides a job, answers a prayer, the dust settles, and we quickly move on to the next thing. As I type this, I think about ways that he has shown up in my family, in my kid’s lives, at our company, and I am given peace and hope. The impact that remembering has on my marriage, my faith, my soul, my view of the future is monumental. My children must remember what God has done in their family’s life.

This is precisely why I wrote The Anchor. As I it says on the book jacket, “the writing of this book has already served its main purpose, a lasting gift to my children.” I want my kids to understand how God delivered their dad, worked in his life, saved him. By remembering this, I know they will have faith and hope for their own future. And, this hope can be passed down for generations.

I created the Seasons Journal as an attempt to inspire others to do the same. A place to write down events and remember what God has done in their lives. My hope is that others, too, can pass down their faith, create a story for future generations to read about their own lives.

I receive many comments from different people who have read the book, and I am always humbled that anyone would read it. I do hope it is an example, a motivation for some to write about their own life for future generations. But, the main purpose of the book is for my kids. Let them remember the awesome God they serve through seeing the thread of deliverance in their dad’s life. And, may they pass this down in the next generation.

Today, remember what God has done in your life. And, if you write it down, it may very well be the greatest gift you give to your family, your kids, and future generations.

Impact others. Live generously.

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