Day 17 w/ Moses: We and our children must never forget the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord.

“And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘This is done because of what the Lord did for me when I came up from Egypt.’ It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭13:8-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I can never remember a time in my life when I did not believe in miracles. There is a good reason for that. As I was growing up, I remember hearing the wonderful stories told by my mother and father about the great things the Lord had done in their lives.

I remember my mother talking about a time when her little sister (probably under four years old at the time) was very sick and dying. Understand, giving her any sort of medicine was not an option for my grandparents. You see, the church in which my grandfather was serving as a pastor, did not believe in taking any sort of medicine. So, to protect my grandfather and grandmother, a local physician came to examine their very sick little girl. He told them that her condition was dire and left saying he would check back in the morning. My grandfather went outside their little home and presented an urgent plea to the Lord, begging for his mercy. Well, the next morning when the physician came by (expecting the worst), he found my mother‘s little sister sitting up and eating heartily. She actually sang him a little song. He confessed he had expected to find that she was gone.

Also—along with all the other stories my mother would tell—on everyone of my birthdays, she would recount how the Lord had worked a miracle to save my life when I was born. She would go through great detail in the telling; so much so, I was self-conscious that other people listening may not be quite as interested as I was in hearing the story retold.

I can’t even remember all of the wonderful stories my father used to tell; but I will share one he often retold (with relish) from his childhood.

My paternal grandfather worked hard for a living, basically being a junkman. Well, he lifted something he shouldn’t have tried to lift (he had an incredible God-given level of strength) and severely injured his back. He could not stand up straight and looked like a “horseshoe.” My father recounted how my grandfather called the children together into the dining room and explained the situation. He told them that if he couldn’t work they wouldn’t have anything to eat and would lose everything (this was during the Great Depression). He asked them to join together in prayer for him. My father told how—as they praying—my grandfather jumped high up off the floor and came down standing straight. He was totally healed!

I could go on with stories, but my point is that, having heard all of these wonderful accounts, I never doubted that God works in miraculous ways. And with that, it also made the miracles told in the Bible very believable.

Sadly, I know people for whom the Lord has done great and mighty things, yet they seem to have forgotten what the Lord has done; they certainly never recount the goodness of the Lord. What a tragedy for them and for their family!

Throughout the word of God we find references to the importance of teaching the next generation about the miracles we have seen and known.

“We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us, The deeds You did in their days, In days of old: You drove out the nations with Your hand, But them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out. For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭44:1-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments;”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭78:4, 7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

These two passages from Psalms are just a couple of examples of an edict repeated throughout the Scriptures.

Today we find Moses hearing the Lord’s explanation for why the Feast of Unleavened Bread must be faithfully observed. The Lord explains that it will be an ongoing reminder of the greatness and faithfulness of the Lord.

You see, hearing the accounts of God‘s goodness toward us, as well as helping us believe in the miraculous, also builds faith and trust for the Lord in those who hear about His faithfulness. Sadly, all some children hear is their parents complaining about their circumstances, never giving any glory to God.

I thank God that I had parents who never let us forget what God has done; I pray I have done the same for my sons. Remember, long after you are gone, those wonderful stories of God‘s faithfulness will be remembered

For today let us discover what Moses discovered:

We must make sure we—and our children—never forget the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord.

#40dayswithmoses