Day 26 in the Wilderness: Don’t forget about your Leader.

“Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful, And have forgotten the God who fathered you.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭32:18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

There is a movie (I have never seen, but I know the plot-line) where because of “Goldfield Syndrome” (a fictional syndrome, combining anterograde amnesia and Alzheimer’s disease), the main female character, loses her memory every night when she goes to sleep. A young man becomes interested in her and proceeds to go on what are numerous “first” dates. Because she retains no memory of being with him, or even meeting him, he has to start over at each “first” date, trying to develop a relationship with her.

Now, as ridiculous as that premise may seem, I have seen a similar phenomenon concerning some people’s relationship with the Lord. In other words, He will do many great and mighty things for them: get them out of a tight place, heal them, or do any number of other wonderful things for them; and yet, at the next point of dissatisfaction or discomfort in their life, it is as though they have forgotten everything the Lord has done for them to that point in time. In this situation, it really looks as though the Lord has to “introduce” Himself again and again, proving the same things about Himself over and over.

And—oddly enough—our great God and King, the Creator of all things, the Almighty, is willing to prove Himself again and again.

However—I don’t know how the movie I referenced earlier ended, but I know that, with the Lord—He does not forever overlook our forgetfulness of Him.

“Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And there be none to deliver: Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭50:22-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Yes, there comes a time when forgetfulness of the Lord and His goodness, will lead to a dark path where the outstretched hand of the Lord has been spurned so often, that He removes His presence.

You need only survey a small portion of the word of God to be struck with how forgetfulness toward God has often led His people into calamity and even destruction.

“A voice was heard on the desolate heights, Weeping and supplications of the children of Israel. For they have perverted their way; They have forgotten the Lord their God.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭3:21‬ NKJV

Our opening scripture for today is taken from what is called “The Song of Moses” (Deuteronomy 32:1-43). In fact, it is actually the song dictated to Moses from the Lord. Moses—at the Lord’s instruction—presented this to the children of Israel just before his death on Mount Nebo. In this song, the Lord gives warning to His people about what had, and would, happen to His people because of their forgetfulness concerning the Lord.

Let us learn from the calamity that came upon the children of Israel and not repeat their error of being constantly forgetful of the goodness of God. Otherwise, we might well find ourselves left alone to navigate the wilderness of this world.

For today write this in your “wilderness journal”:

Don’t forget about your Leader.

#40daysinthewilderness