MEMORIAL DAY
It has been said, if you forget history then you are doomed to repeat it. The Hebrews (children of Israel), who lived during the time of the Exodus from Egypt, were good examples of people who tended to forget to trust in the only true God (1 Cor. 10:1-4). They had example after example of how God keeps His promises and takes care of His people. They also had examples of God’s miraculous mighty acts that He did for His people (Ex. 6-11; 13:17-22). God used ten plagues against Pharaoh (King) and the people of Egypt so they would know that God is the Lord (Ex. 7:5).
In the past, the Hebrews were made slaves in the land of Egypt (Ex. 1:8-14; 5). Their slavery was oppressing and caused them to seek God’s protection (Ex. 2:23-25; 3:7; Acts 7:34). God sent a messenger by the name of Moses (Ex. 3-4). Moses was a Hebrew who was born at a time when all the Hebrew babies were killed by being thrown in the river Nile (Ex. 1:22; Acts 7:8-19). Moses’ mother did not allow her baby to be killed; rather, through the providence of God, Moses was saved and raised by Pharaoh’s daughter (Ex. 2:1-10; cf. Acts 7:21-23; Heb. 11:23ff). At age forty, Moses left the luxury he had in Egypt and became a shepherd (Ex. 2:15-22; 3:1; cf. Acts 7:23-29). And at age eighty, the Lord spoke to Moses out of a burning bush and told him to go back to Egypt and speak to Pharaoh and command him to set His people free (Ex. 3:10; Acts 7:30-37).
After the last plague against Egypt, the killing of the first born, Pharaoh set the Hebrew people free (Ex. 12:30-32). However, after the people departed, Pharaoh changed his mind and pursued the Hebrews with his great army (Ex. 14:1-10). Not surprisingly, God protected His people. God miraculously used the Red (Reed) Sea to save His people and destroy the mighty Egyptian army (Ex. 14:13-31). Unfortunately, throughout the Hebrew’s (children of Israel) history, they often forgot to remember God in a proper way which, in turn, led them to unfaithfulness (Acts 7:51-53).
What happens when people forget history? What happens when one forgets that a hot stove burns skin? He will get burned again. Memorial Day, celebrated last Monday, is for people to remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for their country and to remember what dictators, racists, and non God fearers do to people in the name of personal lust. It is wonderful to have a time with family, but don’t forget the true meaning of Memorial Day and its purpose.
Christians celebrate a Memorial Day on the first day of every week, Sundays (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23ff; 11-14). The memorial was given by Jesus Christ to remember His sacrifice for all people. Unfortunately, not many people truly trust in God and give their lives over to Him as He commands. Those who choose to follow Him do the very thing He asks them to do. One of those things is to remember the sacrifice of His body that was crucified on the cross and to remember His life-giving blood that was shed for the sins of all people. What is the purpose of this memorial? For Christians it reminds them of a perfect sacrifice that only comes through Jesus. If people truly remembered the memorial of Jesus, then self would be replaced with selflessness and unfaithfulness would be replaced by trust in God. So, what happens when people forget history (HIS STORY)?
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves
In the past, the Hebrews were made slaves in the land of Egypt (Ex. 1:8-14; 5). Their slavery was oppressing and caused them to seek God’s protection (Ex. 2:23-25; 3:7; Acts 7:34). God sent a messenger by the name of Moses (Ex. 3-4). Moses was a Hebrew who was born at a time when all the Hebrew babies were killed by being thrown in the river Nile (Ex. 1:22; Acts 7:8-19). Moses’ mother did not allow her baby to be killed; rather, through the providence of God, Moses was saved and raised by Pharaoh’s daughter (Ex. 2:1-10; cf. Acts 7:21-23; Heb. 11:23ff). At age forty, Moses left the luxury he had in Egypt and became a shepherd (Ex. 2:15-22; 3:1; cf. Acts 7:23-29). And at age eighty, the Lord spoke to Moses out of a burning bush and told him to go back to Egypt and speak to Pharaoh and command him to set His people free (Ex. 3:10; Acts 7:30-37).
After the last plague against Egypt, the killing of the first born, Pharaoh set the Hebrew people free (Ex. 12:30-32). However, after the people departed, Pharaoh changed his mind and pursued the Hebrews with his great army (Ex. 14:1-10). Not surprisingly, God protected His people. God miraculously used the Red (Reed) Sea to save His people and destroy the mighty Egyptian army (Ex. 14:13-31). Unfortunately, throughout the Hebrew’s (children of Israel) history, they often forgot to remember God in a proper way which, in turn, led them to unfaithfulness (Acts 7:51-53).
What happens when people forget history? What happens when one forgets that a hot stove burns skin? He will get burned again. Memorial Day, celebrated last Monday, is for people to remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for their country and to remember what dictators, racists, and non God fearers do to people in the name of personal lust. It is wonderful to have a time with family, but don’t forget the true meaning of Memorial Day and its purpose.
Christians celebrate a Memorial Day on the first day of every week, Sundays (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23ff; 11-14). The memorial was given by Jesus Christ to remember His sacrifice for all people. Unfortunately, not many people truly trust in God and give their lives over to Him as He commands. Those who choose to follow Him do the very thing He asks them to do. One of those things is to remember the sacrifice of His body that was crucified on the cross and to remember His life-giving blood that was shed for the sins of all people. What is the purpose of this memorial? For Christians it reminds them of a perfect sacrifice that only comes through Jesus. If people truly remembered the memorial of Jesus, then self would be replaced with selflessness and unfaithfulness would be replaced by trust in God. So, what happens when people forget history (HIS STORY)?
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves
Article published on June 2, 2005 at The Idalou Beacon in Idalou, Texas
Published in the blog "The Lord's Humbled" in 2010
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