Quick to Forget but Slow to Wait

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But they soon forgot what he had done, and did not wait for his plan to unfold.

Psalm 106:13

I’m so glad the Bible is full of moments where the Israelites are… well… Israelites. Over and over again, Scripture tells stories of God’s chosen people complaining, doing something dumb, or complaining about the mess they made by doing something dumb. And honestly, that’s part of what makes their story so relatable.

God’s people were slaves in Egypt—thousands of people forced into hard labour with no hope of freedom. In Exodus, we’re told they cried out to God, and God remembered his covenant. That doesn’t mean God had forgotten something; it means He was about to act on their behalf. So God sends Moses and his brother Aaron to confront Pharaoh and demand that God’s people be set free. God proves His power through signs and wonders, plague after plague, until one final plague finally breaks Pharaoh’s resolve.

The people witness all of this—and yet, the moment they reach the Red Sea and see Pharaoh’s army coming after them, they panic and complain. Never mind that God rescued them. Never mind that the Egyptians had handed over their gold, silver, and precious stones. Never mind that they didn’t fight a single battle to get out. They walked out with their families, their possessions, and their livestock—set up for success. But all they could see was the water in front of them and an army behind them. They blamed Moses and even said they were better off in Egypt. Still, despite their grumbling, God makes a way. Moses parts the sea, and the people walk through on dry ground.

Not long after, Moses goes up Mount Sinai to meet with God and receive the Ten Commandments. The people are told to wait at the bottom of the mountain—even though they had originally been invited to encounter God for themselves. I’ll never fully understand why they passed that up, but maybe their fear was bigger than their faith. As it turns out, their boredom was bigger still.

This is where Psalm 106:13 comes in: “They soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold.” Even writing that makes my throat tighten. This pattern feels painfully familiar. How quickly we forget what God has done. How bad we are at waiting for His plan to unfold.

At the base of the mountain, Aaron is left in charge while Moses meets with the Lord. But Israel’s priest still has a lot to learn. The people nag him—waiting, waiting, waiting—asking how much longer that fellow Moses is going to be gone.

Aaron panics. He forgets what God has done and refuses to wait. Instead, he makes his own plan.

Remember all that gold the Egyptians handed over before the Israelites left? Aaron certainly does. He asks the people to bring it to him and channels their restlessness into something he will soon regret. It’s like when the house gets too quiet and you just know the kids are up to something. Boredom can lead to beautiful things—but it can also lead to mischief.

Aaron melts down the gold and forms a golden calf, declaring, “These are your gods who brought you out of Egypt.” I shiver at the thought. Israel’s high priest—the spiritual leader, the mediator between God and the people—is now leading them astray. The people cheer, celebrate, and worship in deeply profane ways.

Meanwhile, up on the mountain, God knows exactly what is happening and tells Moses it’s time to head back down. Things are not looking good.

I know this sounds strange to say, but sometimes I feel sorry for God. I know He doesn’t need my sympathy, but if you’ve ever felt forgotten or under-appreciated, maybe you can relate.

Why are we like this? Why are we so quick to forget the things God has done and instead run ahead putting together makeshift plans and thrown together solutions to our problems, reacting impulsively when we’ve been invited to simply wait for God’s plan to unfold. 

In the fall of 2023, I was let go from my job. I was working part-time remotely for a company until all my children were old enough to start school. The thing is they were all in school by then and had been for a year. I had told myself for years that I would stay at that job until I didn’t need to anymore, but now that I didn’t need to anymore, I allowed myself to stay stuck in something familiar. 

Turns out God had to remove me himself.

So when the company could not afford to keep me as they struggled to stay afloat after Covid, I was blindsided by the change. I told myself I would leave on my terms. Being let go was not on my terms. Thankfully, I was already on a healing journey. I was already practising the discipline of silence and solitude with the Lord after a year long stint of panic attacks and depression. I still remember washing dishes and looking out my kitchen window after I got the news and I almost immediately heard the Lord say, “you outgrew that job a long time ago. You would’ve stayed there forever had I not removed you. I’m doing a new thing.”

So while I was anxious about the loss of income, I was excited about what was to come. Well, for all that time I spent in silence and solitude waiting to hear from the Lord, it was over six months of hearing him telling me to wait day after day. No matter how much time I sat there in silent prayer, he just kept saying wait over and over. Wait wait wait wait wait. I want to say that it was driving me bananas. I want to say that it was really hard or confusing.

But it was none of those things. I only felt peace. All the time. I only felt loved and guided and what mostly comes to mind when I think back on that season is Psalm 23.

The Lord is my Shepherd. I have all that I need.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me besides still waters.

He restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his namesake.

And even though I walked through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me.

Your rod and your staff they comfort me. 

Finally, after six months, I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit that it was finally time to pursue work. I had spent most of my time until then soaking in the Lord’s presence. I met with people who wanted to meet with me, I prayed, I read, I studied Scripture, I reminded myself of what God said to me when I lost my job. You outgrew that job a long time ago. You would’ve stayed there forever had I not removed you. I’m doing a new thing.

Well, I was finally ready for it. I put myself out there for what I thought was my dream job at a beloved institution only to be turned down. It’s not that you’re not the right fit, it’s that it’s not the right time. That was confusing. But I trusted. And I am so thankful for the doors God did open for me to be where I am now.

I will forever be thankful for the muscles of faith that were built, strengthened, and developed during what turned out to be 11 months of unemployment. I think of the Israelites with their short memory of God’s faithfulness and their impulsivity to do things without waiting on God and his plan.

Lord, have mercy. May that not be me! May that not be you! I don’t want to quickly forget what God has done. I don’t want to be impatient for his plan to unfold. As it says in Psalm 27:14, Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

What’s in the Ears

This is the part where I share a song or podcast I’m currently into. The episode I’m recommending from The Russell Moore Show hosts Beth Moore as a guest it was a truly delightful and enlightening conversation. Let me know if you check it out!

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