Remember Well

“You shall remember that you were a slave in the land, and the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day. De 5:15.

You would think no one would need a reminder to remember their slavery to something…to anything …to everything.  God knew that the tendency of His freed people would be to glamorize their past which they did over and over again.  The very life their begged God to deliver them from was the life they now longed for.  ‘We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic’ Numbers 11:15.  How had they lost so much perspective that they felt it had cost them nothing?  The truth of the matter was it had cost them everything.  Their lives were not their own, and their days were mastered by another.  The answer is because enslaved people tend to see life through their lack instead of their abundance.  God’s entire journey through the wilderness was to take the slavery mentality out of His people.  Without transforming their mind they would always have a propensity towards slavery.  I love the question Priscilla Shirer asked this morning in my Bible Study.  ‘What good is a free person who still has Egypt in their heart?’

What good was it when I quit overspending but secretly envied others?  What good is it for the woman who gives up drugs but takes a drink?  What good is it for the man who returns to his marriage but continues to text the other woman?  There is no good in returning to Egypt.  I can look at my life and know in my heart seasons of slavery and seasons of freedom by my behavior and attitude towards others. I believe Priscilla Shirer lays it out beautifully between living in slavery to something and walking in freedom through Christ.

‘Slaves hoard while free people give generously.  Slaves live fearfully while free people live lovingly.  Slaves live with closed fists while free people live with open hands.  Slaves live from a posture of lack while those who are free live from a posture of gratitude.  Slaves live from a position of deficiency while free people live with a holy expectation.  Slaves believe they don’t have enough but free people believe that whatever they lack God is going to graciously, miraculously and abundantly provide in His timing’ Breathe video.

We must remember that the very God who delivered us from what ensnared us is the same God who will provide for us in all seasons.  Through our challenges He seeks to remove Egypt and replace it with a freedom mentality.  If we are going to remember, let us remember how miserable our captivity was.  If we are going to remember, let us remember what it really cost us.  If we are going to remember, let us remember that in Christ all things are possible if we truly believe.  If we are going to remember, let us remember that we already are victorious in some things because of what Christ did in all things. 

"But do not be afraid... remember well what the Lord your God did" De 7:18.