The Importance of Remembering

"Remember the wondrous works he has done, his wonders, and the judgements he has pronounced." 1 Chronicles 16:12

Have you ever found yourself waiting or wondering what God's next move will be in your life? This is something that has come to my mind quite often lately. Feeling that desire to have something change, but not fully knowing where or what the next move is—waiting patiently for guidance, while also eagerly preparing for something new.

This got me thinking about the Israelites and how God repeatedly moved in their favor to guide them out of Egypt. God did miracle after miracle for them, while providing the guidance for their next steps. The Israelites often didn't know what their next move would be, they simply trusted in God and followed Him.

In order to honor this deliverance out of Egypt, God commanded the Israelites to set aside time each year and celebrate. We know this as 'Passover'. Nowadays during Passover, there is a Jewish tradition that still calls to honor and remember all of the miracles God did for the Israelites—it is called the Dayenu.

In Hebrew, Dayenu means "it would have been enough" or "it would have sufficed". In this traditional Dayenu, it takes us through of the blessings God bestowed upon the Israelites during their exile from Egypt–

If He had taken us out of Egypt and not made judgements on them (the Egyptians),

it would have been enough.

If He had made judgements on them and had not made them on their gods,

it would have been enough.

If He had destroyed their idols and had not given us their wealth,

it would have been enough.

If He had given us their wealth and had not split the sea for us,

it would have been enough.

If He had split the sea for us and had not taken us through it on dry land,

it would have been enough.

If He had taken us through it on dry land and not drowned our enemies,

it would have been enough.

If He had drowned our enemies and had not supplied our needs in the desert for forty years,

it would have been enough.

If He had supplied our needs in the desert and had not given us the Torah,

it would have been enough.

If He had given us the Torah and had not brought us into the land of Israel and had not built us the Temple,

it would have been enough.

This can help put things into perspective for us that God doesn't have to do anything for us, He chooses to. Just as He loved the Israelites and moved in their favor, God does the same for us. Sometimes it may not be in a way we were expecting or in the timeline we had hoped for, but looking back on all the things He did for the Israelites can give us hope for today.

When those moments and seasons come up, when you are waiting on a move from God—remember the Israelites. Remember that God led them out of Egypt. Remember that God blessed them as He led them. Remember that God kept them safe from their enemies in the transition. Remember that the same God who did that back then is the same God we serve now.

Journal Prompt - Take some time to write your own Dayenu prayer to the Lord. Think back on all the times He blessed you, on the times He came through for you unexpectedly, maybe even on times when things didn't quite work out the way you had hoped, but you felt His presence in the midst of it all. Reflect and remember these things, trusting that just as He came through for the Israelites, He will come through for You.

"Remember the wondrous works he has done, his wonders, and the judgements he has pronounced."

1 Chronicles 16:12

Prayers & Love Always

*For more on the Israelites journey out of Egypt, check out Exodus chapters 1-18

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Check out this scene from "The Chosen" where the women recite their own personal Dayenu to Jesus:

https://youtu.be/keCybX8teZ4?si=7xOdIVw0-YfN6-rx