The Bible contains numerous references to God “remembering” people or events. This language can seem perplexing since God is omniscient and does not literally forget things like humans do. So what does the Bible mean when it talks about God remembering something? Here are some key points to understand:
Remembering a Covenant
One of the most common contexts for God remembering in Scripture is when He remembers a covenant He has made with His people. For example, God tells Noah after the flood, “I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh” (Genesis 9:15). The emphasis here is not that God had forgotten His covenant, but rather that He would be faithful to fulfill the promises He had made.
Similarly, God remembers His covenant with Abraham when dealing with the Israelites in Egyptian captivity: “God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob” (Exodus 2:24). God had not forgotten His people but was moved to action by recalling His covenant commitment to them. His remembrance of the covenant signifies His intent to keep His promises.
Remembering People in Mercy
In other cases, God’s remembrance relates to how He shows mercy, compassion, and care for His people. After the flood, “God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark” (Genesis 8:1). God had not really forgotten Noah but demonstrated care by making the flood waters recede.
When Israel was in captivity, they cried out to God, “Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem” (Psalm 137:7). This is a plea for God’s justice and restoration. God’s remembrance often leads to deliverance for His people. As Hannah prays desperately for a child, Eli tells her, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” Hannah later explains, “For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:17, 27-28). God remembered Hannah by answering her prayer.
Remembering Sins for Judgment
At times in Scripture, God’s remembrance of people’s sins leads to His judgment. The psalmist asks God to remember the reproach and wickedness of His enemies: “Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, ‘Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!’” (Psalm 137:7). This is a request for God’s justice.
In Revelation, Babylon is condemned in part because, “God has remembered her iniquities” (Revelation 18:5). Babylon had been proud and unrepentant in its sin, and now God was bringing recompense. Likewise, in Revelation 16, God gives Babylon “the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath” because “God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath” (Revelation 16:19). When Scripture speaks of God remembering sins, it indicates His righteous judgment.
An Anthropomorphism Describing God’s Character
Ultimately, the language of God remembering is a divine anthropomorphism – attributing human characteristics to God to help explain His nature. It helps communicate that, unlike the false gods of the ancient Near East, the true God is personal, relational, faithful, just, and compassionate. God’s remembering illustrates His covenant love for His people and His moral concern for justice.
D.A. Carson explains it this way: “When the Bible says God remembered, it means that he acted in accordance with his covenant commitment, for God had entered into a covenant with Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the nation of Israel. God does not suffer from fits of amnesia. When Scripture says that God remembered, it is a figurative way of saying that God remained faithful to his covenant promises.”
So in summary, the Bible’s depiction of God remembering His people and His promises should not be understood as implying divine forgetfulness. Rather, it poetically emphasizes that God acts consistently with His character – keeping covenants, showing mercy, and promoting justice. Biblical references to God remembering underscore that He is intimately involved with His creation.
Examples of God Remembering in the Bible
Here are some of the key verses in Scripture that describe God remembering people or His covenants:
– “But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.” (Genesis 8:1)
– “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.” (Exodus 2:24)
– “Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac and also my covenant with Abraham I will remember.” (Leviticus 26:42)
– “He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations.” (Psalm 105:8)
– “And I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh.” (Genesis 9:15)
– “Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!” (Psalm 137:7)
– “And God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.” (Revelation 16:19)
The Significance of God’s Remembrance in Scripture
The concept of God “remembering” in the Bible provides great hope and comfort for believers. Here are some key implications:
– It highlights God’s faithfulness – Even when we are faithless, God always remains faithful to His promises and covenants (2 Timothy 2:13). His remembrance of His covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and others reminds us that He keeps His word.
– It points to God’s compassion – God’s remembering often leads to mercy, deliverance, answered prayer and blessing. He cares deeply about the needs of His people and responds with compassion.
– It underscores God’s justice – While God is patient and longsuffering, He does ultimately punish sin and rebellion. His remembrance of sins highlights His justice and moral government over creation.
– It reveals God’s nearness – Unlike the aloof gods of ancient cultures, the true God desires relationship with us and is intimately involved in our lives. The anthropomorphic language reminds us of His tender care.
– It foreshadows Christ – God’s covenant faithfulness ultimately finds its fulfillment in Christ, who “remembered us in our low estate” by coming to save us (Psalm 136:23). Jesus sealed the new covenant in His blood so we could be forgiven.
So in summary, this biblical phrase teaches us much about God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, His mercy and care, His justice and righteousness, and His desire for relationship with us through Christ. His remembrance highlights key facets of His gracious character.
Verses Comparing God’s Remembrance with Human Forgetfulness
Several verses directly contrast God’s remembrance with human tendencies to forget things:
– “Yet Jerusalem has forgotten me days without number.” (Jeremiah 2:32)
– “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15)
– “But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.’ Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” (Isaiah 49:14-15)
– “And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.” (Deuteronomy 8:2)
These passages use the experience of human forgetfulness to emphasize that God’s memory and faithfulness far exceeds our own. We may forget promises, lose track of people, or fail to recall past events. Yet God never forgets His purpose, His people, or His covenants. His memory and consistency reveals His superior nature compared to fickle, faulty humans.
Conclusion
The biblical theme of God remembering highlights some profoundly comforting truths for believers. Even when we feel forgotten or abandoned, we can be assured that God remains faithful to His character and promises. He will never truly forget us or neglect our plight. While human memory fails, God’s memory – and His commitment to His people – remains steadfast forever. Just as He remembered Noah, Abraham, Hannah, and countless others, He will remember us because of Christ. Ultimately, belonging to God means we are forever kept in His perfect memory and care.
