Forgetfulness

“Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: ‘For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.’” Genesis 41:51

I love taking walks down that lane called memory. It makes the holidays particularly enjoyable, as my family gathers and we talk over old times and share our history, the brothers teasing, the sisters helping in the kitchen while we make the famous passed-down family recipes. For people with happy memories, the past looks like the present, which looks like the future. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Many people’s memories are painful, of course. They have no desire to remember, nothing to celebrate. For people with painful memories, the past is best kept in the past, and good riddance.

It is the Lord’s mercy that we forget certain things, or that we forget most of the details of events. We don’t have perfect recall, by the Lord’s design.

But there are 12 people in the world who are known to have a condition called hyperthymesia. It is obviously extremely rare, and it’s a good thing it is. The syndrome is marked by having an extreme memory for personal history—called an “autobiographical memory.” These people are destined to spend abundant time thinking about personal memories. If given a date in the past, the person will recall the day of the week the date fell on, what she was wearing, and what TV show aired that day.

This type of recall would be a curse, as it would be greatly difficult to stop the flow of memories. Conversations overheard would never disappear, and in fact would trigger even more unstoppable memories. This, in effect, locks a person in the past. Time cannot heal. Can you imagine constantly replaying things that have happened to you, or words said about you? May God have mercy on them.

For the rest of us, we are told to forget certain things and remember others. We’re to forget our misery and poverty, our toil and painful experiences, and our shame. We always are to remember the works of the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:12)—this gives us a thankful heart. We are told to remember the Sabbath, remember when we were lost, remember our Creator, His Name, promises, words, mercy, benefits, provision, rescue and salvation. We’re to remember those who have gone before us, and remember their examples, both good and evil.

Our Lord never forgets us. He gives us this sure word: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands…” (Isaiah 49:15-16a).

Lord, help us forget our shame and sorrow, and remember Your great works. We are thankful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.