Text: Hebrews 6:9-12
The Hebrew writer reminded his audience that God would not forget their work. However, during difficult times, it can sometimes feel as though God has forgotten us. In this lesson, we will examine some instances in which God remembered certain people – not that He had forgotten them or His promises, but that He took action in His time (the proper time). These examples are meant to encourage us that God will not forget us or fail to reward us if we are faithful to Him.
God Remembered Noah (Genesis 8:1-5)
- What had happened to Noah? – God destroyed the world with the flood (Genesis 7:21-23) because of man’s wickedness (Genesis 6:5-7); Noah was saved through his faith in God (Genesis 6:8-9; Hebrews 11:7) and obeyed God in building the ark (Genesis 6:22)
- What happened when God remembered Noah? – the flood waters began to subside (Genesis 8:1) and the ark came to rest (Genesis 8:4); Noah and his family would eventually be able to leave the ark (Genesis 8:14-19)
- Lesson: God remembers our faith and obedience to Him – Noah is an example of faith to us (Hebrews 11:7); his salvation is a “type” of ours (1 Peter 3:20-21); we must faithfully obey God, even if we are among the “few” who do so (1 Peter 3:20; cf. Matthew 7:13-14)
God Remembered Abraham (Genesis 19:27-29)
- What had happened to Abraham? – the Lord appeared to him and told him of His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:20-21) because of their great wickedness (Genesis 13:13; Jude 7); Abraham’s nephew Lot was living in Sodom (Genesis 13:12; 14:12; 19:1-2); Abraham pleaded for the righteous to be spared (Genesis 18:23-33)
- What happened when God remembered Abraham? – the cities were still destroyed (Genesis 19:28, 24-25), but Lot was delivered (Genesis 19:29; 2 Peter 2:7)
- Lesson: God remembers us in the midst of sin and unrest in society – our society is becoming more like Sodom (wickedness, violence, and opposition to godly people); even if we face persecution, chaos, or both, God will remember His people (Revelation 18:4-5; Hebrews 13:5)
God Remembered Rachel (Genesis 30:22-24)
- What had happened to Rachel? – began with her and her sister both marrying Jacob (Genesis 29:18-28); Leah and both their handmaids had children with Jacob, but not Rachel (Genesis 29:31-30:21)
- What happened when God remembered Rachel? – He “gave heed to her” (Genesis 30:22) and answered her prayer for a child; she conceived and bore a son (Genesis 30:23); she recognized that God had blessed her (Genesis 30:24)
- Lesson: God remembers us when we are facing bitterness, jealousy, and disappointment – this does not mean that God will respond to every prayer in the way we want (1 John 5:14-15); but the Lord can sympathize with us (Hebrews 4:15-16) and offers us peace if we trust in Him (Philippians 4:6-7)
God Remembered His Covenant (Exodus 2:23-25)
- What had happened to the Israelites? – they had come to Egypt to survive the famine (Genesis 47:11-13, 27); over time they became enslaved and oppressed (Exodus 1:8-11) and cried out to God (Exodus 2:23)
- What happened when God remembered His covenant? – God took notice of them (Exodus 2:25) and began His plan to deliver them (Exodus 3:6-10)
- Lesson: God remembers us even when we feel like He has abandoned us – for a while, God was not as directly involved with the Israelites as He had been; it may have felt like He had forgotten them, but He had not; just because we do not have direct revelation and miracles from God does not mean He has forgotten us; He will save us if we will be faithful until the end (Matthew 24:13)
