Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced ... – Psalm 105:5

Today’s Scripture Reading (July 21, 2013): Psalm 105

I have to admit that I like the idea of the TV show “The Mentalist.” There is just something about a guy who is willing to debunk the idea of reading minds. In the show Simon Baker plays Patrick Jane, a man who at one point in his life had played the game of reading minds and the telling the future. But it was just a game that he was playing. In his new role with the California Bureau of Investigation, he admits that his mind reading days were all a hoax. All it takes to play the game of reading minds is to be observant of what is going on around you, and to remember what it is that you have seen.

It is interesting that the big secret to becoming a person of faith is actually found in the same abilities the Patrick Jane used to read minds. The heroes of the faith often simply remembered what had already happened in their lives. In the escape from Egypt, Moses simply experienced the burning bush and then remembered the God of that bush. The faith of the man as he stood before the Pharaoh pronouncing the judgment of God on the nation of Egypt was really based on Moses remembering the burning bush. As Moses stood in front of the Red Sea expecting God to move, that expectation was built on all that Moses had seen and remembered up until that point.

The failure of the twelve spies as they went into Canaan to scout out the land that God had given to Israel was really a failure to observe and remember on the part of the ten of the spies. It was only Caleb and Joshua who remembered and were incredulous that somehow the others had watched all that God had done in front of their eyes and yet seemed to draw the line at what God might be able to do in the future in the Promised Land. For the ten, in spite of having front row seats for the plagues in Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea, they forgot the power of their God and were intimidated by the Giants of the land in front of them.

The Psalmist implores Israel to simply remember what it is that God has done. Remembering the acts of God is the central theme of this Psalm – so that the believing community could be transformed into an incredible people of faith. And the concept of remembering was central to everything that God encouraged the people to do. It is even found in what could be described as the foundational scripture of Hebrew faith – the Shema. The second paragraph of the Shema finishes with these words – “be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (Deuteronomy 6:12.) All it takes to be a person of faith is to watch what God is doing all around you – and remember.     

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 106