God remembers

But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and livestock with him in the boat. He sent a wind to blow across the earth, and the floodwaters began to recede. The underground waters stopped flowing, and the torrential rains from the sky were stopped. So the floodwaters gradually receded from the earth. After 150 days, exactly five months from the time the flood began. Genesis 8:1-4

This is the first occurrence of the word “remembered” in the Bible. The remembrance came during the time of an awful cataclysm of the Flood. It was the most devastating event thus far that took place in the history of the world. In the midst of such tragic event, God remembered Noah, his family, and even the animals that he brought with him in the ark. God remembered Noah not because he was righteous but because of God’s grace. “But Noah found favor with the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). He was a sinner just like us but he trusted God and His grace that He obeyed even when others ridiculed him that God will send judgment if the people will not repent of their sin. His faith in God kept him safe in the ark. We may forget many things but not God. He remembers when we place our trust in Him alone to save us. He keeps His promises and He kept on fulfilling them. This is what Luke wrote about when the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled His coming in this world when He was born one Christmas morning. “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago” (Luke 1:68-70). God will keep His covenant for it is in His nature to be true to His word. “Remember” does not only refer to events happening at present but as well as the future. “The LORD remembers us and will bless us…He will bless those who fear the LORD, both great and lowly” (Psalm 115:12-13). God remembers even the things we do to honor and glorify Him. “He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him” (Hebrews 6:10). The one thing that God chooses to forget is the sin He forgave after our repentance. “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds” (Hebrews 10:17). God wants us to remember His faithfulness and to keep our promises that we will fulfill our commitment to His word. “But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! (Psalm 103:17-18).

Blessings,

Noel De Guzman

www.my-wbc.com