If you know me well, you know that I love the Old Testament. A lot! One of my favorite things about it is the realness of its characters and narratives. I find little pieces of myself in Abraham’s impatience and desire to help God out with His promise of a son, or Jacob’s wrestling, or Joseph’s circumstances that looked to be anything but what his dreams had promised. And oh do I identify with the people of Israel: their doubt and wondering ways are things my heart knows well.
Perhaps what I love most about the Old Testament though is its constant call to remember. Abraham set up pillars along his journey to the land God had called him to to remember. Isaac and Jacob did the same. As the Israelites passed through the river Jordan one man from every tribe carried a rock through its parted waters to set up as a memorial in order that they and their children would remember that day forever.
The people in the Old Testament set up their rocks of remembrances so that when new circumstances caused them to doubt they would have visible reminders of who God had been to them in the past to spur on their faith in who He would be in their future. His displays of power and rescue and provision and presence were marked down in stone so that they would not forget these things when it came time to trust Him again.
As I prepare to leave, I keep thinking about what is in front of me and my constant prayer, as I mentioned in an earlier post, is that I would visibly see God go before me. It is equally important though to remember who He has been in the past.
So, for the days coming over the next year when my heart is full of doubt and fear and I lack the ability to see what is ahead of me, I’m going to write down over the next five weeks reminders to myself of what is behind me. Some of you know these stories well and many of you walked through them with me. I hope they encourage you again.
And now a note to myself: Carrie, if you find yourself in 3 months freaking out…. Remember these things….
