How quickly we forget God’s great deliverances in our lives. How easily we take for granted the miracles he performed in our lives. The Bible tells us over and over, “Remember your deliverances.”
We’re so like the disciples. They didn’t understand Christ’s miracles when he supernaturally fed thousands with just a few loaves and fishes. Jesus performed this miracle twice, feeding 5000 people one time and 4000 the next. A few days later, Jesus was warning the disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees. They thought he said this because they’d forgotten to bring bread for their journey. Christ answered them, “Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up?” (Matthew 16:9-10, NKJV).
According to Mark, Christ was overwhelmed by how quickly his disciples had forgotten. Jesus said, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?” (Mark 8:17-18).
What do these passages tell us? It’s clear that none of the disciples stopped to consider what was happening as those miraculous feedings took place. Try to picture these men walking among the crowds carrying their baskets, passing out loaves and fishes that multiplied miraculously before their eyes. You’d think those disciples would have fallen on their knees crying, “How is this possible? It’s simply awesome. It’s totally beyond human explanation. Oh, Jesus, you truly are Lord.” I imagine them urging the people they served, “Here, feast on miracle food. Jesus has provided it.”
The disciples saw these miracles with their own eyes, but somehow the significance didn’t register with them. Likewise, you and I forget God’s miracles in our lives. Yesterday’s deliverances are quickly forgotten amid the crises of today. However, consider Moses’ exhortation to Israel after the miracle of the Red Sea: “Moses said to the people: ‘Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt…for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place.’” (Exodus 13:3).
May we join the psalmist in saying, “I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all your work, and talk of your deeds” (Psalm 77:11-12).