TEXT:

‘Can a woman forget her own baby and not love the child she bore? Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget you’ (Isaiah 49:15 GNT).

The previous verse to our text says, ‘But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me”’ (Isaiah 49:14). How often do we feel like that and even say to others, “God has forgotten me”? You may be thinking the same thing right now. I want to encourage you, although it may appear God has forgotten you, He cannot and will not. Today’s Teaching focusses on six instances where scripture reminds us that God remembers. Let these examples turn you from despair to praise. If God remembered them, He will remember you too! Part 1 studies the first three.

1. God remembered the one who was barren – ‘Then God remembered Rachel; he answered her prayer and made it possible for her to have children’ (Genesis 30:22 GNT).

For years Rachel had endured the stigma and shame of barrenness. She was, after all, the one Jacob really loved and had worked for all those years. Time flew so quickly; such was his love for her. Cheated by Laban, Jacob ended up with two wives. Leah was the one who was unloved, but she produced four children. In desperation, Rachel gave her maid to Jacob, and she produced two sons. Leah did the same, with the same result. Then Leah gave birth to two more sons and a daughter.

Just when Rachel had given up all hope of motherhood, God remembered her, listened to her cries of desperation, and enabled her to give birth to Joseph. The one who had struggled the most, gave birth to the son who would rise to great prominence and become the saviour, not just to Jacob’s family, but also to Egypt and the surrounding nations.

Perhaps you have had to endure the taunts of successful people around you, while all the time you were producing little or nothing? Don’t give up! The Bible says, ‘Though it tarries, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry’ (Habakkuk 2:3). Rachel is just one of many biblical instances when God turned barrenness into fruitfulness, and He can do the same for you too!

2. God remembered the one interceding for his family – ‘And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt’ (Genesis 19:29).

God revealed to Abraham the imminent destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham knew of their awful reputation but still interceded for God to spare them, if enough righteous people were found living there. God promised He would hold back judgment even if there were just ten.

As it was, not even ten righteous people  were found, but just before judgment was about to commence, God remembered Abraham and sent two angels to rescue Lot, his wife and daughters before the destruction commenced. Sadly, his wife disobeyed the command not to look back and perished.

How many times have we prayed for our loved ones? How many times have their lives been spared as God has honoured our intercession? Don’t stop praying! Don’t stop interceding! And God will not stop remembering!

3. God remembered the one who had done His will – ‘Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided’ (Genesis 8:1).

Noah was chosen because God said he was righteous and would do His will to build the ark. He would keep building despite not really knowing why and in the face of constant ridicule as no rain came, year after year.

When eventually the flood did come, Noah, his wife and family were safely inside the ark. God will always honour those who honour Him and do His will.

God remembered Noah and caused the waters to dry up, so Noah could leave the ark and live once again on earth. Perhaps Noah was fearful of another flood if he sinned, so he sacrificed to the Lord and God accepted his offering. God promised Noah He would never flood the earth again and gave him the sign of the rainbow to confirm He would never break that promise.

When we see a rainbow, we also see the sunshine and the rain, but when God sees it, He remembers the covenant He made, not just with Noah but also with every living creature on earth (See Genesis 9:8-17).

Do you feel you have lost out doing the will of God rather than just pleasing yourself? The Bible says, ‘For God is not unfair. How can he forget your hard work for him, or forget the way you used to show your love for him—and still do—by helping his children?’ (Hebrews 6:10 TLB). ‘And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up’ (Galatians 6:9 TLB).

Nehemiah prayed, ‘Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people’ (Nehemiah 5:19). God did and He will remember your work and labour of love too.

There are blessings to be found when we remain faithful to do His will.