REMEMBER, REMEMBER, REMEMBER

"YOU SHALL SACRIFICE THE PASSOVER TO THE LORD YOUR GOD...YOU SHALL NOT EAT LEAVENED BREAD WITH IT; SEVEN DAYS YOU SHALL EAT WITH IT UNLEAVENED BREAD, THE BREAD OF AFFLICTION (FOR YOU CAME OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT IN HASTE), IN ORDER THAT YOU MAY REMEMBER ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE THE DAY WHEN YOU CAME OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT." DEUTERONOMY 16:23

The Passover: a time of remembrance for the nation of Israel being brought out of bondage and slavery in the land of Egypt by the Lord's powerful hand. The Israelites left in such a hurry that they grabbed their bread bowls and took them with them to bake the bread on the run. Because of this, for seven days each year during the Passover, they were not to eat any unleavened bread. Every time they took a bite of bread they were to remember!

Unleavened bread is called the bread of affliction. God sees us in our affliction. Affliction means "the cause of continued pain of body or mind, as sickness, losses, etc., an instance of grievous distress; a pain or grief."(1) Our pain is real. First, there is the spiritual pain of separation from God, when we have not come to know Him as He truly is. Then there is the emotional, mental, and physical pain of life: death of loved ones, lost jobs, broken relationships, illness, depression, earthquakes...just to name a few. Here's the funny thing: God wants us to remember. We usually do the opposite: run from the pain, shut the door, and throw away the key trying to forget the past or the present, but by doing so, we forget what God has done for us to rescue us, redeem us, and restore us. (2)

When you look up the word "affliction" in the Old Testament, intertwined in many of the verses are two repeating thoughts: the Lord is in the midst of our affliction and new life and joy is brought forth out of affliction. Here are several examples:

An angel of the Lord told Haggar, Sarai's maid, that she would bare a son and name him Ishmael "because the Lord has given heed to your affliction." (Genesis 17:11)

Leah named her firstborn Reuben, "because the Lord has seen my affliction." (Genesis 29:32)

Joseph named his second son Ephraim because "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." (Genesis 41:52)

Hannah, the mother of the great prophet, Samuel, prayed, "If You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me" (I Samuel 1:11) that she would dedicate her first born son to the Lord all the days of his life. And she did, plus had three more sons and two daughters born after him!

How can we rejoice if we do not remember? It says at the beginning of Exodus, when Moses told the Israelites that God was about to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians: "So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed low and worshiped." (Exodus 4:31)

Our response is not to continually look back, stuck in the past, reopening old wounds and not allowing them to heal. It is like a cut on a finger. We doctor and bandage it. Over time healing occurs and the pain goes away. When we look down, however, we are reminded by the scar that we once hurt our finger. In the same way, our call is not to keep drudging up the pain but give it to God so He can heal our hearts. Only through Him can we stop, reflect, remember, then turn and rejoice and worship God through the risen Messiah, who is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. He was sacrificed for our sins so that the penalty of death would "pass over" us onto Him. This is cause to celebrate! This is cause for feasting!

How about you? Do you know our loving Heavenly Father, who delivers you from sin and bondage? If not, fall on your knees, ask for forgiveness and accept the love and grace He freely offers you through His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Do you know Him but are stuck in the past with your memories of pain and disappointment? If so, open up the Bible and be reminded of all the great and mighty things He has done and ask for your mind to be renewed when you think on the past. 

Are you in the midst of suffering? Then cry out to Him because He sees your pain and gives heed to it.

Have you been delivered and set free? Then remember the great victories in your life and recognize God is your healer and redeemer. Bow low, worship and celebrate the new life He has given you! Follow the example of David: "I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindess, because You have seen my affliction; You have known the troubles of my soul." (Psalm 31:7)

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(1) Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

(2) Disclaimer: There are times to run. If you are being tempted, you are called to flee from that temptation. you are to flee from immorality. And if you are in a dangerous relationship, you need to flee and seek help from others.