An Antidote to Spiritual Amnesia
How Could We Forget?
“How did I forget her birthday?” What man hasn’t asked that question, at least once in his life?
But how about, “How did I forget my salvation?” It’s hard to believe it’s possible, but we can forget that God saved us and how he saved us. We forget we didn’t deserve saving. We forget we were saved by God. We forget the suffering required to save us. We forget to worship God for saving us. What’s the antidote for such serious spiritual amnesia?
Exodus
David Murray
This journey through the book of Exodus includes 50 daily devotionals written by David Murray. Part of the StoryChanger Devotional series, this book features daily readings designed to help you learn, love, and live the Bible.
Let’s see how God cures the Israelites’ amnesia in Exodus 12 so that we can improve our spiritual memories too.
Salvation Is by Grace Alone
Israel could not save themselves; God had to do it. God initiated salvation (Ex. 12:1–2), designed salvation (Ex. 12:3–5), and provided salvation (Ex. 12:6). He reset their calendar so that the beginning of the year reminded them of the beginning of their salvation. His salvation blueprint was titled “Substitution,” saving Israel from death by a lamb dying in their place.
Grace + something = nothing.
Grace + zero = everything.
“So God starts salvation. I guess I have to complete it, then?” Nope, you just receive it.
Salvation Is by Faith Alone
Israel needed faith to receive God’s salvation. They needed faith to kill the lamb, faith to sprinkle its blood around their front doors, faith to burn the lamb, faith to eat the lamb, and faith to pack up and prepare to leave Egypt. They needed faith to believe “it is the Lord’s Passover” (Ex. 12:11).
For salvation to be by grace alone,
it must be received by faith alone.
“So we’re to put our faith in the blood of the lamb. Then do we do our part?”
Nope.
Salvation Is by Blood Alone
God taught the Israelites there could be no salvation without suffering, blood, and death. “For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt” (Ex. 12:12–13).
Plan to remember your salvation, or you can plan on forgetting it.
The Lord judges the bloodless
but passes over the blood-covered.
“So we don’t have any part.
What does that mean for us?”
It means worship.
Salvation Is for the Glory of God Alone
Why does God save in this way? So that he gets all the glory. “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast” (Ex. 12:14). He instituted a memorial to remind Israel of his salvation and give an opportunity to celebrate his salvation. When Moses told Israel about this salvation, the people bowed their heads and worshiped (Ex. 12:27). That’s exactly where God wants us.
Plan to remember your salvation,
or you can plan on forgetting it.
This article is adapted from Exodus: Stories of Redemption and Relationship by David Murray.
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