The Danger Of Forgetfulness

“In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat round pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.’”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16‬:‭2‬–‭3‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

The Israelites had just witnessed some of the most astonishing miracles in human history—ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, water from a rock, and the visible presence of God leading them in a cloud by day and fire by night. Yet only a few days into the wilderness, they began to grumble. “If only we had died in Egypt!” they said. Imagine that—longing for slavery because they missed the taste of meat! How quickly they forgot the lash of Pharaoh’s whip and the cries of their children under oppression.

Forgetfulness is dangerous. It blinds us to God’s faithfulness and magnifies the problems right in front of us. When we lose sight of what God has already done, we start believing the lie that He’s abandoned us now.

Grumbling might feel like stress relief—but it’s a counterfeit comfort. Like a drug, it numbs the tension of the moment through negativity, rather than healing it through faith. But God hates grumbling because it dishonours His goodness and questions His care. The Israelites’ murmuring led to judgment again and again. It should sober us toward trust.

If you’ve developed the bad habit of murmuring when life feels hard, retrain your soul toward remembrance and praise. The Psalmist said, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God” (Psalm 42:11). And again, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago” (Psalm 77:11).

There is power in remembrance. Revelation 12:11 says, “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Every time you remember what God has done, you strengthen your faith to believe He will do it again!

Keep a journal of God’s goodness. Write down the answers to prayer, the unexpected provision, the moments of guidance and grace. Revisit them often. In our church, we even compiled a book called Revive Stories—filled with miracle testimonies from people in our congregation. It has become a weapon of faith for new believers and seasoned saints alike.

Your testimony—your story—has power. Forgetfulness leads to fear, but remembrance fuels faith. Today, choose to recall God’s faithfulness. Rehearse His goodness. Speak His promises aloud. Don’t grumble—remember!

I Will Remember and Hope in God. I declare that when my soul feels downcast and my heart is disturbed within me, I will not surrender to despair. I speak to my soul and say, “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God” (Psalm 42:11).

I choose to remember the works of the Lord. I will recall His wonders of old, His faithfulness in past seasons, and His mighty hand that has carried me through (Psalm 77:11). What He has done before, He is able to do again.

I declare that memory fuels my hope. When the present feels heavy, I anchor my heart in the truth of who God has been and who He will always be. His faithfulness has not changed, and His promises have not failed.

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