“I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh” (Genesis 9:13-15).

God’s judgment had just been poured out in a flood upon all the earth. Pure evil had corrupted all of God’s creation except for Noah, his family, and some animals. God directed Noah to build an Ark in order for them to be saved through the coming judgment. The rain fell and the fountains of the deep exploded, and yet those few people who obeyed God were protected.

The rains finally stopped, the Ark eventually came to rest upon dry land, and God made a covenant to never destroy creation by flood again. That covenant was represented by the rainbow, and to this day the rainbow still appears as a sign of God’s covenant to never again destroy the earth through a worldwide flood. He remembers His promise, but we easily forget. It wasn’t long before sin once again crept into the lives of that handful of people.

How could they have forgotten the evil corruption that had brought Judgment? How could they slip back into sin so soon? Today we seem to have forgotten the evil of Noah’s day and many are participating in the same perversion that corrupted the entire earth. There’s even a group who have taken the rainbow as a symbol to promote their sin and mock God. How soon we forget.

Time passed and people once again were immersed in demon worship, paganism and perversion. They had an idol for everything, but failed to recognize God Almighty. Abraham was called out of this pagan culture and came to know and follow the one true God. His grandson, Jacob, fathered twelve sons who established the twelve tribes of Israel. Eventually a drought covered the land and Jacob, his sons, and their families were in danger of death.

They were chosen by God and He provided a way to protect this family from death by leading them to Egypt. They lived and prospered there for many years, but a Pharaoh came into power who feared the Israelites. His fear caused him to enslave the Israelites.

Living was harsh and they suffered under the slavery they were in. When the time was right, God provided a way out. Moses was called. He had been born to Hebrew parents of the tribe of Levi, but was raised as an Egyptian in Pharaoh’s court.

Circumstances in his life caused him to flee into Midian where he spent 40 years. One day God talked to him from a burning bush and told him to go back to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to release the Hebrews. It took a while, but after many plagues were sent upon Egypt, Pharaoh allowed the Israelites to leave. They had entered Egypt as a family but when they left they were a nation. It was important to remember what God had done for them and to honor Him.

“And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten” (Exodus 13:3).

History would be quite different if the journey from Egypt to the Promise Land had been filled with joy and faith in the Lord. If they had only remembered what God had done for them they wouldn’t have feared entering the land God had promised to Abraham. God had sent plagues upon Egypt until Pharaoh let them leave. He parted the Red Sea to allow them to cross as if on dry land but closed it upon the Egyptians who were pursuing them.

God led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, yet they forgot all the LORD had done for them. When faced with the giants who lived in the land of Canaan, the land God had promised to them, they would not trust Him to be with them in conquering the giants living there. Their lack of faith caused them to wander for 40 years in the wilderness, but God still provided for them. How could they have forgotten God’s power.

The Israelites had selective memory.

“And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick” (Numbers 11:4-5).

They forgot the harshness of the slavery they had been under and they grumbled. God provided daily bread but what did they remember? The “pleasures” of the food in Egypt while selectively ignoring the harshness of slavery in a pagan land.

“But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes” (Numbers11:6).

How soon they forgot and how blind they were to God’s blessings. Yet God never forgets. The promises He made to Noah and to Abraham are still valid today. Never again has there been a worldwide flood and the land promised to Abraham still belongs to the nation of Israel, though Satan driven people dispute that fact.

Another promise that God never forgot was the promise that the Messiah would come through the tribe of Judah. That promise was fulfilled in a manger in Bethlehem. Jesus, God incarnate, was born humbly and lived among His creation. When the time was right He called twelve men to be His disciples to learn from Him.

He did many miracles such as giving sight to the blind, healing lepers, driving out demons, and walking on water. Yet those men who followed Him daily and whom He taught many lessons to, forgot. How could they forget that Jesus fed a multitude of people with five loaves of bread and two fish?

“And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children” (Matthew 14:20-21).

That should have been etched into their memory, yet they forgot. It wasn’t long until another multitude of people had followed Jesus and needed food. Jesus called His disciples and told them that He would not send them away hungry.

“And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?” (Matthew 15:33).

Jesus didn’t remind them of the manna that He provided for the Israelites in the wilderness, nor did He remind them that He had fed another multitude not long before. He just asked for the bread and fish that were on hand. This time there were seven loaves of bread and a few fish, but 4,000 men plus women and children were fed with this small amount of food.

When all were fed there were seven baskets of leftovers. I wonder if the disciples remembered this time or if they forgot. Soon thereafter, Jesus had one of many confrontations with the Sadducees and when He and the disciples departed they had forgotten to bring food with them. Jesus used the situation to teach them to beware of the leaven (sin) of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

“Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6).

Instead of learning the lesson the disciples thought He was berating them for not bringing bread to eat. Jesus loved these men, but I think this time He shook His head at their forgetfulness.

“Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?” (Matthew 16:8).

They saw the grand scale miracles of Jesus in feeding the multitudes, but they couldn’t see that He also did miracles every day in their own lives. How soon they forgot.

It is so much easier for us to remember God’s promises, isn’t it? Well, maybe not. God has never let me down and there are many times that I stand amazed as I look back and see His hand on my life and how He provides. Yet, how soon I forget.

Just recently I have had a series of calamities. Many household items breaking (air conditioner, water pump, garage door, etc.). Then my phone went out and I lost my wallet. Just one thing after another…

I fretted, worried, lost sleep, and finally prayed. I should have prayed first. I also should have remembered that God has always provided. The repairmen came quickly and I was able to pay their bills. The wallet was found and whoever turned into the store where I lost it had taken no money and had not used my ATM or credit card.

Because my phone was out I was unable to call and cancel the cards, but just after I got my wallet back, the man came and repaired my phone a day earlier than expected. God finds so many ways to remind me that He cares, and even when it seems as if things have gone wrong and are out of control, He is still right there and all I have to do is lean on Him.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

(I need to remember that.)

God remembers His promises, but there are things that He forgets.

“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25).

What a blessed promise. This is contained in the Old Testament and directed to the Israelites, but that promise was fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Christians have a promise that others don’t have. Because God remembered His promise of salvation, our sins are forgiven when we place our faith in His death, burial, and resurrection.

“And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrew 10:17).

Sometimes it is good that things are forgotten. This is a promise from God.

When we accept the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the atonement for our sins, He forgets our sin…we are justified. The rest of our life is spent being sanctified. That means the Holy Spirit draws us nearer to our Lord and we try to become more like Him; we try to conform our life to Him. We study God’s Word, not twisting it to accommodate our sin, but to see our sin and change.

We ask His forgiveness, and try not to continue in sin so our lives reflect Christ. Like Noah, we cannot be a part of the evil around us. Like Abraham we need to leave the pagan, idol worshipers and move on to honor God. Abraham’s nephew Lot and his family lived among the perversion in Sodom, but they were protected and removed before God sent judgment. Don’t be like Lot’s wife who looked back to her old life in Sodom and was turned into a pillar of salt.

Although she had the opportunity to leave the filthy life behind, she wasn’t sincere about leaving. Once you truly accept Christ as your Savior, don’t look back. Remember what He did for you on the cross of Calvary and move forward to honor Him with your life. You won’t be sorry you have left the pagan world of sin and debauchery behind. Even as you live in this sin saturated world, if you don’t forget His promise you will be content.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

Now that is something to remember.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (Matthew 16:13).

This was a general question, but one that would lead to a more pointed question. The disciples had seen many wondrous things He had done. They had seen miraculous healings, they had seen Him use a few fish and loaves to feed thousands of people, they had heard Jesus teach, and they had also been witness to the confrontations with the Pharisees.

These twelve men had followed Jesus and it was time for them to recognize who He was. After the crucifixion it would fall to this band of fishermen and tax collectors to turn from followers to leaders. It was time for them to start putting two and two together and recognize that Jesus was their Messiah.

The first question was about other people’s opinions. Many had seen what Jesus had done, and the disciples were aware of the varied opinions.

“And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets” (Matthew 16:14).

In those days the Jewish community was looking for the Messiah to come as a mighty warrior to rescue them from the oppression of the Romans, and so they didn’t view Jesus as their promised Messiah, just a messenger. He didn’t lead an army, just a small band of followers.

“For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form or comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:2-3).

Like many people today, they hadn’t paid attention to Scripture, and they read into it what they desired. They were looking for a conquering hero, but what they got was exactly who prophecy had foretold; Jesus came as a servant, in humbleness and gentleness. There were rumors about Him everywhere and many opinions, but if they had held Scripture as authority they would have known the truth. The next question Jesus asked His disciples was personal.

“He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).

This time He didn’t ask about the opinion of men in general, but each of His followers in particular. Outsiders had opinions, but these men followed Him. To them He wasn’t just passing through while He performed healings. He taught the disciples and He answered their questions. If anybody understood the truth of who He was, it was the twelve men who followed Him. The answer came from Peter.

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16.)

I always get goose bumps when I read this. Peter made many mistakes, but he knew without a doubt who Jesus was, and He wasn’t ashamed to proclaim it.

This question, “Who do you say I am?” is one that every person who claims to follow Christ needs to answer. There are many people who don’t understand that Jesus Christ is God incarnate.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

John was one of the twelve disciples and he wrote these words. John knew who Jesus was.

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

The Word (God) became flesh (Jesus) and dwelt among us (His creation). That’s very clear. Peter knew it, John knew it, and they were not ashamed to say it.

The only one of the twelve who didn’t believe it was Judas. Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, and that was also prophesied by Zechariah.

“Then I said to them, ‘If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’—that princely price they set on me.’ So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Zechariah 11:12-13).

This was a prophecy acted out by Zechariah regarding Jesus and it was fulfilled when Judas betrayed Him.

“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him” (Matthew 26:14-16).

Judas had seen the same miracles and heard the same teachings as the other disciples, but the seeds of truth fell where the birds of the air ate them. I wonder what he was thinking when Jesus asked, “But whom say ye that I am?”

Do you think he might have thought that Jesus was the brother of Lucifer like some cults believe? Or maybe he thought Jesus was just another wise teacher like so many people today think. Whatever he thought, he came to a bad end. So it is with anyone who rejects the deity of Christ. You may claim to follow Him, but if you don’t know who He is, you have condemned yourself.

The conversation that Jesus had with His disciples continued. Peter’s declaration of Jesus being the Christ, was what Jesus had wanted them to have learned and He was pleased.

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17).

Peter had a direct revelation from God. The deity of Christ is a basic foundation of the Christian faith. If you’re blinded to that fact, you need to study God’s word and understand this truth. There are many places in Scripture where Jesus declared His deity, but at the illegal trial where the Jewish leaders condemned Jesus to die, the verdict of death was because of blasphemy. They had asked Jesus many questions and He refused to answer, but they persisted.

“But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” (Mark 14:61).

This high priest wanted to know if Jesus thought Himself to be God. This time Jesus answered their question.

“And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:620.

That statement drew much anger.

“Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death” (Mark 14:63-64).

Now, let’s get back to Jesus’ questions to His disciples. After Peter made the God-inspired statement as to Christ’s deity, Jesus explained that He would build upon this basic, but important, foundation.

“And I say also unto thee, ‘That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it’” (Matthew 16:18).

There are some who believe that the ekklēsia (translated “church”) was built upon Peter. How wrong they are. Jesus was referring to the truth of the statement Peter had made, not to Peter himself. There is only one foundation and that is Jesus Christ.

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1).

Don’t allow the doctrines of men or devils to confuse you. Study Scripture for yourself and understand God’s truth. There are many false doctrines being taught, but prayerfully studying God’s word will help clear up errors. God does not want you to be deceived.

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33).

If you confess Jesus before men, then you need to be certain who He is. If you only see Him as man who was very nice or a someone who taught some good ideas, then you are not making the correct confession. Thomas was one of the twelve, and he didn’t want to be deceived. He had seen Jesus crucified and buried. He hadn’t been in the upper room when Jesus had entered a locked door to visit with His disciples after He had risen from the dead.

They had told Thomas, but he doubted them. He said he wouldn’t believe unless he put his finger in the nail prints and thrust his hand into His side. After all, a mere man could not have risen from the dead. So, eight days later Jesus once again entered the locked room where the disciples were gathered together.

“Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing” (John 20:27).

Yes, Jesus heard Thomas’ doubts, just as He hears what we confess about Him. It isn’t His wish that anyone should perish, and until we are given every opportunity to recognize and accept Him as God Almighty…to put our hand into His side, so to speak.

“And Thomas answered and said unto him, ‘My Lord and my God’” (John 20:28).

Thomas knew beyond all doubt that Jesus truly is God. Don’t let doubt cause you to deny Christ.

“Jesus saith unto him, ‘Thomas, because thou has seen me, thou has believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed’” (John 20:29).

Like Thomas, you have a choice. You can hold onto your doubts and die in your sin or you can accept the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and know that He is your Lord and your God. If you know who He truly is you will live eternally with Him. There is no other way to gain salvation than through the shed blood of Jesus. If you see Him as less than God, then you don’t know Him.

Hear the question one more time, and be sure you have the right answer:

“He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham