All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt!” (Num. 14:2)
Expanded Passage: Numbers 14:1-4
Fear gives us amnesia faster than a blow to the head. Under the leadership of Moses, the Israelites had seen God perform ten miraculous plagues to rescue them from Egyptian slavery. They had witnessed the parting of the Red Sea (or “Sea of Reeds”). They had eaten manna from heaven in the desert. Yet, when they saw giants in the Promised Land, their fear erased all memories of God’s mighty power.
This same “spiritual amnesia” has the potential to impact us all. We ask God to walk with us through a difficult season, praise him when he does, then find ourselves a short while later crying out to God, “Where are you? Why do you never answer?”
There is little that can ruin our faith as fast as fear. Our fear asks, “Is God trustworthy?” even while our own histories shout, “Yes, he is!”
How do we guard against this sort of forgetfulness?
With the same intentionality that God himself encouraged the Israelites to practice. The Passover, as well as the other festivals in the Torah, were intended to serve as reminders of God’s faithfulness, so that when fear and doubt threatened to rob the Israelites of their memories, they would have something to cling to. Finding ways to remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness yesterday is an important part of keeping our faith today.
Keep a list of answered prayers to reread on fearful days.
Meg Christian lives in northern Virginia and volunteers in her church as a Sunday school teacher and worship team member. She attended Roberts Wesleyan University (NY).
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
