When God Remembers

“But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and livestock with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.  The fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, and the waters receded from the earth. At the end of 150 days the waters had abated, and… the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.” Genesis 8:1-4

“He spread a cloud for a covering,
    and fire to give light by night.
They asked, and he brought quail,
    and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.
He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
    it flowed through the desert like a river.
For he remembered his holy promise,
    and Abraham, his servant.

So he brought his people out with joy,
    his chosen ones with singing.
He gave them the lands of the nations,
    and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil,
that they might keep his statutes
    and observe his laws.
Praise the Lord!” Psalm 105:39-45

Through years of obedient ark construction and days and weeks of rain, reeling in floodwaters, God watched over Noah and his family vigilantly. Through early traveling, settling, and building a family, and years of desert wandering and murmuring, then conquest of the promised land, God watched over the Israelites, from Abraham to multiplied millions. He remembered His love, His plan, His promises to His children. (Genesis 1:26-28; 12:1-3; Joshua 21:43-44)

When God remembers, we must not infer that He forgot. His remembering is an active, intricate fulfillment of all He is, has promised, and delights to do. He is never confused or unable to recall, but is infinitely perfect in omniscience and the ability to execute with precision every plan and purpose. (Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 14:24; 2 Corinthians 1:20)

Though life confronts us with times of destitution, when we wonder if He sees our helpless estate, understands our trouble, or has forgotten us altogether, God remembers. Calling this to mind brings hope, because His very nature to remember affirms we’re in His sight and heart constantly. When we are exhausted, spent from spending ourselves on others, giving to the last drop of energy, means, will, and mercy, He remembers. He neither overlooks nor forgets our love and work for the saints. (Psalm 42:6-11; 139:7-12; Galatians 6:9-10; Hebrews 6:10; 1 John 3:2)

What difference does God’s remembrance make in my fatigue, my morning and nightly outlook, my willingness to get up and obey, again? Whom can I encourage that he or she is deeply loved, known, and remembered by Jesus, and that all His good plans come to fruition? When God remembers, we hope, and keep on.

“Loved with everlasting love,
drawn by grace that love to know,
Spirit sent from Christ above,
thou dost witness it is so.
O this full and precious peace
from his presence all divine;
in a love that cannot cease,
I am his and he is mine.

His forever, only his–
who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss
Christ can fill the loving heart.
Heav’n and earth may fade and flee,
firstborn light in gloom decline,
but while God and I shall be,
I am his and he is mine.” ~Wade Robinson (1890)

Lord, help me remember that You remember, and live out my gratitude with unending joy.