You Have Forgotten Me
In my study of the book of Jeremiah today, I came across this accusation: You have forgotten me (Jer. 2:32) This statement is not without justification if one reads the preceding statements:
- They worshipped worthless idols. vs. 5
- They did not ask where is the Lord? vs. 6
- You defiled my land corrupted the possession I had promised you. vs. 7
- My people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols. vs. 11
- They have abandoned me. vs. 13
- They have dug for themselves cisterns that can hold no water at all. vs . 13
- The towns lie in ruins. vs. 15
- They rebelled against the Lord their God even though he was leading the way vs. 17
I could go on, but I think you get the point. The people of God who had once loved him had forgotten him.
Many times, I think that our life is too easy, that we really have no need of God. I am reminded of those persecuted Christians (those whose life and safety really are threatened) and I would suggest to you that they realize how utterly dependent they are upon God and upon his sustaining power, his protecting hand, and his incredible love. Are we not equally dependent?
Several times, Jeremiah charges God’s people with forgetting to call upon him in times of trouble.
They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD,
who brought us up out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness,
through a land of deserts and rifts,
a land of drought and darkness,
a land where no one travels and no one lives?’ (Jer. 2:6 NLT)
The parallel for us is obvious: Have we forgotten God in our blessed life? Do we feel like we have need of God? Do we call out for him in times of trouble believing in faith for his help?
I know that in my life, I have some pressing needs. Some things for which I need to cry out, “Where is the Lord?” Would you join me today in remembering God and his power to deliver, heal, provide, restore, protect, and love only as our Heavenly Father can? It is time for us to abandon the god of self-reliance and human ingenuity and rely upon God once again as we did at first.
