When Memory Loss is the Ultimate Loss

Psalm 106:12-14, 24-26: "They (the Israelites) believed His (God's) promises and sang his praise. But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test. . . . Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise. They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD. So he swore to them with uplifted hand that he would make them fall in the desert."

If there is one episode that is referenced time and again in the Scriptures, it is the account of the children of Israel leaving Egypt for the promised land. Immediately following God's incredible display of power at the parting of the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape Pharaoh and his mighty army, the Israelites were celebrating in dance and song. As they beat their tambourines, they gave praise to the LORD as the One highly exalted (literally "risen risenly").

But it was not long before these Israelites forgot who God was and His promises to them (in fact it was only three days until they started their grumbling for not having water in the desert). They permitted their circumstances to gain a foothold upon them, leading to their despondency. It was then that the true disposition of their hearts was revealed; they were a people more consumed with their own desires above being faithful to the One True Lord of Hosts.

In becoming angry with God and His servant Moses, they determined not to wait on the Lord to work His purposes through them; rather, they resolved within themselves to do what they believed to be expedient for themselves. This consumption with "self" eventually led to their craving of their own wanton lusts in direct defiance to the commands of the Lord. They became so enamored with their self-ladened debauchery that they would actually come to a point that they would "despise" the very Promised Land of blessing that the Lord had offered to them, provided that they would be surrendered to Him and obedient to His calling.

In the end, the LORD would remove his offering of the rich, fertile land of Palestine to them, since they did not want it. The LORD swore that He would have His people die in the wilderness, never being the beneficiaries of the very best that God wanted for them.

This is a tremendous word for us today. We must remember that life is not a continuous, spiritual euphoria; rather, it is one filled with wilderness travels that will test our faith. What we must remember is that our faith is strengthened through trial and tribulation. If we remain anchored by faith to the LORD in the midst of our difficulties, we will not follow a similar path of despondency that the Israelites traversed. Sadly, if we forsake the Lord, we will forsake His best for our lives (and eternity in His blessed Promised Land [i.e. Heaven]). We will follow our own selfish desires to the detriment of our calling . . . which is to be yielded to God as our Master and Savior. And we will find ourselves dying in the wilderness.

Let's be a people who trust in the Lord no matter the circumstance. Let's condescend our wills to His glorious will for our lives. And let's joyously await His very best for us . . . both now and for all eternity.