“Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?” (Matthew 16:9-10)
How could the disciples have gotten concerned about their lack of bread? Hadn’t Jesus miraculously multiplied the loaves and fishes in the two previous chapters (Matthew 14:15-21; 15:32-38), first for the 5,000, then for the 4,000? How could they have so soon forgotten? Jesus sternly rebuked them for failing to remember.
Clearly, the Lord expects us to learn something from each time He answers our prayers, delivers us, or miraculously supplies our needs. He expects us to remember these acts of God’s faithfulness and to draw faith from them. Reminding ourselves of God’s past faithfulness is one of the most important practices a Christian can cultivate. To do so removes a sour attitude and inspires faith to meet any crisis that comes along.
Do you remember when the shepherd boy, David, wanted to challenge the Philistine champion, Goliath? King Saul tried to deter David, reminding him that he was only a youth, but Goliath was an experienced soldier (1 Samuel 17:33). What was David’s answer? David recited to Saul all the times God had previously helped him against other deadly enemies (lions and bears). And from God’s faithfulness to him in the past, David reasoned that God would help him again (1 Samuel 17:34-36). This is what every child of God needs to get in the habit of doing.
Too often, Christians follow the sickening pattern of the Israelites in the wilderness. When cornered at the Red Sea, they bellowed, “Was it because there were not enough graves in Egypt that God brought us out here to die in the sea?” When thirsty, they whined, “Did God bring us out into the desert to die of thirst?” When hungry they complained, “If only we were back in Egypt where we had bread to the full.” They never remembered God’s help in their previous crisis and failed to have faith for the present. They squandered all of God’s miracles without growing at all in their faith.
Tragically, when God called them to take a leap of faith and enter the Promised Land, their faith was too small to respond (Numbers 13-14). Israel “chickened out” and spent the next 38 years wandering in the wilderness – until that older generation of cowardly complainers died out. May God help us not to make the same mistake! Let’s get into the habit of remembering God’s faithfulness and thanking Him.
REFLECTION
Do we do the same – moving from crisis to crisis with the same negative attitude?
Do we fail to gain insight and grow from the trials God brings us through?
It will cost us dearly if we keep forgetting God’s faithfulness to us in the past. Let’s remember God’s goodness and learn to give thanks.
